Members Only
Member Dashboard

Search APHA Blog

Search

health advocates and navigators

Like Putting Ponze in Charge of My Retirement Savings – a Rant

4 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By /
Charles Ponze

I live and work in Florida now. For the first time in my adult life, I live in a state where there’s a real possibility that my vote in the upcoming presidential election will make a difference. As a result, when I sit down to watch TV in the evening, I see a constant barrage of the most objectionable commercials. This candidate bashing that candidate. “Facts” that aren’t facts. Claims that have been disproved over and over again. Detestable. You may be surprised to know that THOSE commercials aren’t the ones that upset me the most! In fact, I no […]

Like Putting Ponze in Charge of My Retirement Savings – a Rant Continue Reading

The Starfish Story Curmudgeon

4 minutes of reading / 2 Comments / By /

Several weeks ago, a couple we know were married. It was a wonderfully happy event, celebrated by many. The wedding itself was elegant, and beautiful, and everyone had a delightful time at the reception. You know – the stuff fairy tales are made from. The bride chose a starfish theme for the celebration, telling the starfish story alongside it. She has worked hard for decades as a nurse and the starfish story speaks to her – a perfect choice for her, really. Starfish were part of both her wedding shower and the reception decor. Just lovely. What? You don’t know

The Starfish Story Curmudgeon Continue Reading

An Independent Care Professional’s Most Important Body Part

5 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By /

I’m guessing you don’t think of your body parts as making important contributions to your advocacy career. But they certainly do! In the past we’ve talked about the importance of your ears (listening). I could also focus on your brain (a – ahem – no brainer), or your fingers (which dial your phone or type your emails) or even your feet (which take you to meet your clients). While those may be important, none are as important as the one we’re looking at today. Today we’re going to take a look at the one body part that will help you

An Independent Care Professional’s Most Important Body Part Continue Reading

Celebrate the FUN: Anticipation, Reconnecting, and Buying New Stuff

4 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By /
Fotolia: AntonioDiaz

Most of us spent at least 13 of the first 18+ years of our lives going back to school this time of year. Many of us went back to school in August or September even more years than that – through college, even grad school or medical school… And for some of us, like me, who chose teaching as a career, there were that many more years…. (In fact, I went back to school for 27 of the first 33 years of my life.) Then of course, our kids went back to school even when we didn’t… so add another

Celebrate the FUN: Anticipation, Reconnecting, and Buying New Stuff Continue Reading

Whack-a-Mole and the Zen of the Caterpillar That Became Lunch

3 minutes of reading / 2 Comments / By /

Tuesday was a whack-a-mole day. One thing would go wrong, I would begin to fix it, only to find something else needed fixing, too. Details with new bank accounts (have you tried opening a new business bank account lately?), an incorrect tax bill from the city where I now live and do business, hiccups with our new phone system, and myriad technical problems with the ongoing redesign and redevelopment of the APHA membership website… Yes, whack-a-mole. But Wednesday and Thursday, two experiences combined to give me new perspective, one I’ll share with you in hopes it will help you weather

Whack-a-Mole and the Zen of the Caterpillar That Became Lunch Continue Reading

Survey Says! The Results Are In

2 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By /

We privately paid, independent, professional patient advocates “tend to be older, white, female, more highly educated, and have other medical training or past careers in related professions.” …. or at least that is one conclusion drawn by the surveyors — those who built, issued and analyzed the first National Health and Patient Advocate Survey.* Both private, self-employed advocates, and employed advocates (hospitals, insurers, employers), were surveyed. Whether or not you were one of the folks who took the survey, if you have any interest in patient or health advocacy as a profession, you’ll be interested in the results. They were

Survey Says! The Results Are In Continue Reading

Today I Expect They Will Begin to Fly. Will You?

4 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By /

If you follow this blog, you know my husband and I have moved to Florida. It’s been a long two weeks, but we are now settled in our temporary housing, a nice home in the same community where we will be building a new home. (Yes, another move!) Here in my new space, my desk sets right next to a window, looking out over some garden palms. Pretty, and I thought maybe peaceful, too. I’d be able to get some work done – a quiet place to work on APHA business and book writing… Until early last week

Today I Expect They Will Begin to Fly. Will You? Continue Reading

APHA Blog : The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates →←