health advocates and navigators

Why We Should Avoid Using the Title “Certified Patient Advocate”

6 minutes of reading / 6 Comments / By

It’s a big question among patient and health advocates – whether or not someone is considered “certified” as a patient advocate. Last week I answered a question that came from an advocate about why someone would bother taking a course or finishing a program if they wouldn’t be considered “certified” at the end…. But there are even bigger considerations – some food for thought for those who disagree with my stand about claiming certification. I believe the use of “Certified Patient Advocate,” in these early stages of the profession’s development has the potential of hurting both you, as an individual …

Why We Should Avoid Using the Title “Certified Patient Advocate” Continue Reading

Revisiting Education and Patient Advocates’ Certification

2 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By

Attendees at our recent AdvoConnection Business Institute had a variety of topics and issues they wanted to discuss. Follow up surveys and emails produced even more, including some questions that, over time, will be answered to our best ability. Some will be answered during teleconference call-ins, others through our fabulous advisors, and one or two will be addressed right here on the blog. One question that pops up frequently regards certification. As I’ve written before, and as is true today, there is no such thing as a nationally recognized patient advocacy certification – period. Therefore, there is no such thing …

Revisiting Education and Patient Advocates’ Certification Continue Reading

Putting WOM to Work for You

4 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By
man speaking

(Originally published in November 2011. Updated November 2019) One of our APHA members got in touch after a talk he gave to his local Rotary Club. He was disappointed in the turn-out and wondered whether all his effort was worth it. After our brief email conversation, it seemed that sharing some of the important points might be a good idea since you might run into some of his same issues. Those issues are based on presentation and expectations. So let’s take a look. Public Speaking, whether there are 5, 50, 500 or 5000 people in attendance is a great form …

Putting WOM to Work for You Continue Reading

Clarifications and an Update on the Schueler Compass Award

3 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By

Just so you know we pay attention, three important concerns have popped up about the Schueler Compass Award, the award recently announced at the AdvoConnection conference. These concerns came in the form of replies to the survey we took after the conference was over. Since the surveys were completed anonymously, and since comments expressed by one person may represent the thoughts of many, we’ll address them here, publicly, on the blog. Concern 1: Posted among the survey results about the conference in general was the following: There was alot of conversation about the KS awards going to 2 members who will …

Clarifications and an Update on the Schueler Compass Award Continue Reading

Patient Advocacy on the Cusp of the Tipping Point

4 minutes of reading / 3 Comments / By

A tipping point: a dictionary definition will tell you that it means “the crisis stage in a process, when significant change takes place.” And for patient and health advocacy – we are almost there. Almost at the tipping point. I first learned the term when I read Malcolm Gladwell’s book by that title, The Tipping Point. I learned that the term is borrowed from epidemiology. That is, when a contagious organism infects enough people to go from just a few sick people, to hundreds, or thousands or millions – the tipping point occurs in that modicum of space or time, …

Patient Advocacy on the Cusp of the Tipping Point Continue Reading

Tooting Your Own Horn, and Playing a Tune People Want (and Need) to Hear

5 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By

My last two posts have focused on why it’s important for those who want to succeed as private patient advocates realize that their success won’t rely on just their advocacy skills. The bottom line is that success is NOT about an advocate’s skills. Success is dependent on the balance of perception, needs and knowledge on the part of potential clients and the capabilities of advocates to fulfill them. And that means that success is dependent on the advocate’s understanding of how to run and promote a business. In other words: Succeeding in the business of private patient advocacy requires two …

Tooting Your Own Horn, and Playing a Tune People Want (and Need) to Hear Continue Reading

Forum Fireworks Tackle the Question: Who Is Qualified to Be a Patient Advocate?

6 minutes of reading / 8 Comments / By

(Originally published September 2011. Updated September 2019) Fireworks erupted in the APHA Forum recently. I call them fireworks because those involved are so passionate about their work – no matter what their points of view. Fireworks are awe-inspiring and truly beautiful, even if they don’t accomplish much, which is exactly what transpired. The questions and statements that caused that passion are worth sharing here, because they can help all of us clarify our roles in this growing profession of patient advocacy and navigation. The initial question was ” I’d love to hear from advocates –like me– who do not have …

Forum Fireworks Tackle the Question: Who Is Qualified to Be a Patient Advocate? Continue Reading

APHA Blog : The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates →←
Scroll to Top