Deviating from my usual advice or issues-type post, I have a couple of invitations for you today. In both cases you’ll be helping yourself and helping future health or patient advocates, too.
Invitation #1:
Tell a success story. Many of you know that (in my “other life”) I write about patient empowerment – issues, concerns, advice and tips. One thing I am reminded of every day is that many people have no idea that such a service as private patient advocacy exists. They may even see references to patient or health advocates or navigators who can help them weather their medical care challenge storms. But because we don’t have a lot of public examples, they don’t understand when such a service might be useful to them.
I want everyone to have an advocate – just like everyone knows a real estate agent to call, or knows when it’s time to call their lawyer or someone to help with their taxes. Especially with the confusion of the upcoming implementation of healthcare reform, having a private advocate to call will become a necessity.
So how do we accomplish that more widespread realization on the part of patients and caregivers that the help they need is out there and ready to help them?
This time we’re going to leverage the power of storytelling combined with the several hundred pageviews a month that come to my patient empowerment articles. And when I say “we” – I hope you are going to pitch in!
If you are a professional advocate – please tell a story of a patient whose outcomes improved because you were there to help out. You don’t need to tell a long or complicated story. You can tell about one successful aspect of your work even for a client who required extensive services. Just provide a good example of something you were able to accomplish that improved that client’s experience with the healthcare system. And – you can sign your name and designate your location, if you would like to (not required – but that’s the marketing part!)
Invitation #2:
Provide a review. You may know about the website AdvoConnection sponsors that lists and provides information about all the advocacy education programs, events and organizations available to help promote our chosen career field. Called Health Advocate Programs (original, right?) – it lists every known opportunity for furthering the skills and knowledge of advocates of all flavors.
If you have been a student of any patient or health advocacy program, or if you have ever attended one of the listed events, or if you have been a member of any of the organizations – we would like your opinion about them! By providing a brief review, you’ll be helping others decide what is worth their time, energy and money – AND – for those programs that have not met or exceeded your expectations, you’ll be helping them improve their offerings.
There are a few rules and parameters (like – you can choose whether or not to identify yourself publicly) – so take a look at the review information. You can either link directly to the review form, or, you can find your way to the listing of the program, event or organization you’ve participated in, and find a link to make your review from there.
So that’s it! Two invitations – to help yourself and to help others.
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FOR PATIENTS | FOR ADVOCATES | FOR POTENTIAL ADVOCATES
This is a great idea Trisha! I for one would love to participate and tell a client success story. Would you like us to just share our stories here? Dalia.
Dalia – glad you want to participate!
You’ll see links for each opportunity in the descriptions above. The sharing is to be done elsewhere for the highest profiles.
Link here to share patient stories.
Link here to share your education, program, event and organization reviews.
Thanks for asking!
Great addition to all of the other wonderful things you do to help us promote ourselves, Trisha…I am very grateful!