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EVERYBODY NEEDS A PATIENT ADVOCATE!

EVERYBODY NEEDS A PATIENT ADVOCATE!. Purpose: To explore how becoming smart patients ourselves and learning effective ways to communicate with doctors help us assist patients in achieving better health care. PRESENTERS. Donna Ambrogi, JD Public interest attorney & instructor in elder law

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EVERYBODY NEEDS A PATIENT ADVOCATE!

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  1. EVERYBODY NEEDS A PATIENT ADVOCATE! Purpose: To explore how becoming smart patients ourselves and learning effective ways to communicate with doctors help us assist patients in achieving better health care.

  2. PRESENTERS • Donna Ambrogi, JD Public interest attorney & instructor in elder law Resident representative on Board of Directors of Aging Services of California • Linda Vogel, Ph.D. Graduate Specialization in Gerontology Professor Emerita & Senior Scholar at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary PILGRIM PLACE RESOURCES Claremont, CA 91711 Linda.Vogel@garrett.edudlambrogi@verizon.net

  3. SMART PATIENTS • Prepare a list of concerns & questions. • Have lab test results, list of medications & medical history to give to the doctor. • Listen carefully, take notes, ask questions. • Debrief with someone after the visit. • Seek second opinions when needed. • Learn to navigate the health care system • Do research (WEB, library, etc.).

  4. Doing WEB Research • Who runs the site? • Who pays for the site? • What is the purpose of the site? • What is the source of the information? • How current is the information? • What links are included? • How is the site managed? • Generally reliable sites: .edu & .gov.

  5. ROLE OF PATIENT ADVOCATES Listen to patient to learn their • Medical history • Current issues and priorities Together, prepare a list of • Medical concerns • Questions to ask doctor Listen PREPARE

  6. At the Doctor’s Appointment: • Listen carefully. • Encourage the patient to speak up. • Take notes. • Ask questions if necessary. • Be assertive so that all the patient’s concerns are addressed.

  7. DEBRIEF • Go over what the doctor said. • Draw together medical records, all medications being taken, new prescriptions, etc. • Decide together who will communicate with family, when appropriate. • Decide on next steps. • Make follow-up appointments.

  8. WHEN NECESSARY • Make medical appointments. • Assist with research (WEB, etc.). • Ask questions and explain options. • Coordinate care among health providers. • Interact with HMO, insurers, etc. • Coordinate volunteers to help monitor care in hospital.

  9. Assisting Patients to:

  10. Advance Health Care Directives • Document combining Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will. • Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

  11. PATIENT ADVOCATES ARE NOT • Hands-on caregivers • Required to drive patients to appointments • Health Care Agents (e.g. Power of Attorney for Health Care) • Decision-makers

  12. Setting up a Patient Advocate Program • Recruit coordinator and trainers. • Design a training program. • Recruit possible advocates for training (no up-front commitment). • Hold training sessions (we had 6 two-hour sessions). • Sign up advocates. • Publicize and educate about roles advocates can play. • Coordinator receives requests from residents &/or referrals from clinic nurses & assigns advocates.

  13. Books for Patient Advocates • You, The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet C. Oz (2006). • Share The Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill, by CappyCapossela & Sheila Warnock (2004). • How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman (2008). • How to Save Your Own Life by Marie Savard, Warner Books, 2000. • How to Survive Your Hospital Stay by Kanegan & Boyette, Simon & Schuster, 2003.

  14. Other Publications • Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People. Free from National Institute on Aging. NIH Pub. No. 05-3452. ( www.nia.nih.gov/ ) • End of Life:  Helping with Comfort and Care, NIH Publication No. 08-6036, 2008.  Free from National Institute on Aging, NIH. • CONSUMER REPORTS ON HEALTH, monthly • UC BERKELEY WELLNESS LETTER, monthly • MAYO CLINIC HEALTH LETTER, monthly

  15. WEB Sites • www.mayoclinic.com/ • www.harvardwomenshealthwatch.org/ • www.mgh.harvard.edu/news/publications.aspx • www.JohnsHopkinsHealthAlerts.com  • www.nih.gov • www.healthfinder.gov

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