patients

Do You Pass the Trust Muster? Says Who? Announcing Background Checks for Health Advocates

5 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By

We were all there at one time; that point in early adulthood when we realized we needed someone to guide us as we saved money for our futures and retirement. We didn’t understand much (if anything at all) about investing, or 401Ks or IRAs or REITs or annuities. We were confused. We thought we would miss something important. We needed an expert – an investment advisor! Someone who truly understood all this investing and saving stuff, terminology, possibilities, to help make it happen…. Someone who could hold our hands over time as needed…. Someone we could trust with our money. …

Do You Pass the Trust Muster? Says Who? Announcing Background Checks for Health Advocates Continue Reading

How to Avoid P*ssing Off the Doctor in One Easy Step

5 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By

OK – granted – I used that title to get your attention, but there’s a lesson here for all of us whether we use it for our clients, or for ourselves, or for a loved one — and that is — how to share information you have learned about symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment, without putting your provider on the defensive, or upsetting him / her. Too often I hear people I know, or (worse) a health or patient advocate, say “I TOLD that doctor … (fill in the blank)”. Argh. It makes me cringe. Because such an approach will most …

How to Avoid P*ssing Off the Doctor in One Easy Step Continue Reading

What Gator Head Windchimes Can Teach Us About a Healthy Advocacy Practice

5 minutes of reading / 3 Comments / By

My husband and I moved 14 months ago to Florida. Since then, each time I’ve been on the highway, I’ve seen billboards which have fascinated me. They advertise the Florida Citrus Centers which are roadside tourist stops where you can buy (yes, you guessed it) – oranges, grapefruit, limes and other fruit, plus other Florida-related souvenirs. But until last week, I had never stopped at one of the Citrus Centers, despite a 14 month curiosity… The curiosity is right there on that billboard photo above: Gator Head Wind Chimes. What on earth would an alligator head wind chime look like? …

What Gator Head Windchimes Can Teach Us About a Healthy Advocacy Practice Continue Reading

A Rose by Any Other Name Might Ruin a Client Relationship

6 minutes of reading / 2 Comments / By

Words matter. Descriptions matter. Names matter. And we, as advocates, need to pay attention to words, descriptions, and names – and take steps to use them correctly, and as desired. The problem is – sometimes we don’t know when we’re violating that axiom. I was reminded of this a few times recently, not the least of which caused my husband some consternation. He and I have different last names. We were older when we married, and because I was already professionally known by my maiden name (Torrey), I didn’t want to change my name. Before we married, we discussed my …

A Rose by Any Other Name Might Ruin a Client Relationship Continue Reading

Advocates Are Afraid to Do This – Until They Love to Do It

5 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By

Earlier this year we hosted one of our APHA Workshop weekends*, with about 30 individuals who are somewhere in the process of growing an advocacy practice. The APHA Workshops were originally designed to support the BUSINESS of advocacy only. The idea was that most advocates have abundant skills and abilities to advocate – they’ve advocated for themselves and loved ones, and sometimes non-family patients for years. What they didn’t know was how to successfully start and run a sustainable business / practice to allow them to do their advocacy work. For five years, we hosted those original workshops all over …

Advocates Are Afraid to Do This – Until They Love to Do It Continue Reading

Are You Too Old? Take this survey.

2 minutes of reading / 3 Comments / By

It happened again last week. A gentleman called me to discuss becoming an advocate. He has great experience and could be very helpful to patient-clients because he is (mostly) retired from a career in human resources where he assisted employees with their journeys through the healthcare system. He seems so very well prepared to jump in as an independent, professional, health advocate or care manager. Yet – he said he was still hesitating because (and it took me some time to pull this one out of him) – he thinks he may be too old. Too old? I asked him, …

Are You Too Old? Take this survey. Continue Reading

Part III: The Dirty Dozen Skills, Abilities, and Attributes of Successful Health and Patient Advocates and Care Managers

6 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By

Yes, Part III, as promised in our second installment when we continued with three additional attributes of successful advocates. Find Part I of the Dirty Dozen. Find Part II of the Dirty Dozen. This week we are concentrating on marketing skills. Many readers know I believe most assuredly that no advocate can successfully establish an independent, private practice unless he or she effectively markets his or her abilities and availability. Period. Which of these describe you and your abilities? Which of them do not? Where do you go from here? Do your own assessment! 8. Effective marketing begins with good …

Part III: The Dirty Dozen Skills, Abilities, and Attributes of Successful Health and Patient Advocates and Care Managers Continue Reading

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