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If I Could File a Lawsuit, I Would

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I’m really angry at the investment firm Morgan Stanley – really angry. I have had to deal with them since my father died, trying to manage and move a small IRA my sisters and I inherited, and they have done their utmost to make that impossible. I’ve told the story at my About.com blog because the bottom line is – if there was such a thing as a financial services advocate, I would hire him or her. That’s a great lesson for patients, with similar concepts applied to their medical care, and will hopefully make some of your phones ring, […]

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Clearing Up a Misperception About Patient Advocacy

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In an email conversation recently with the administrator of a new advocacy program (which will open up to new students in Fall 2013), I was asked where I saw the role of health and patient advocates within the healthcare system. I had to think about that for a few minutes. I decided that I don’t see advocates as being “within” the healthcare system at all. Our role is actually from the outside, looking in – and that’s where our successes for our patients can be found. Here’s why: The necessity of advocacy services comes as a result of the dysfunction

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Time to Kick Start Your Advocacy in the New Year

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Like most of us, I get quite introspective the first of each year. Not so much in the making-resolutions sense. Rather in the “it’s time to get going” sense – after the pause of the holiday season. For 2013, I see big things in our futures of helping the people who need us, and improving their access and outcomes from the healthcare system – no matter whether it’s the American system, Canadian, British, South African or Australian. (Did you know The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates has members from all those countries?) And in that vein, I’m trying something a

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Healthcare System Challenges in 2013 Create Opportunities for Advocates

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The healthcare times, they are a-changing! As we wrap up 2012 and look forward to next year (or perhaps, by the time you read this, it will already be 2013), there are a number of issues and challenges patients – our clients – need to be concerned with. Take the time to become familiar with these updates and challenges, alerts and warnings; they may create marketing opportunities for you as you alert potential clients that you can solve them as a part of your service. I’ve written about them here: Some are simply updates to how the system is managed

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Holiday Hospital Dangers Spell HERO for Patient Advocates

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There is no time like the present to keep your clients out of the hospital. Just raising the issue may make you a hero to them. I realize how dramatic that sounds, but bear with me here. Think about any workplace you’ve ever worked in during the holidays. Employees, even customers, are not nearly as focused on the work-at-hand as they are during non-holiday times. They may be taking sick days or personal days off (shopping and baking take precedence!), they may be leaving work early to see their kids in the Holiday Concert at school. They may be laughing

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Plenty of Disruption at the PPAI Conference

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It was an incredible collection of professionals representing a wide spectrum of private and hospital advocacy. Men, women, younger (20-somethings), older (70-somethings), newbies (“I’m still thinking about it”) and veterans (“I’ve been doing this for 20 years!”). Bedside advocates, hospital advocates, billing and claims advocates, mediators, nurses and nurse practitioners, lawyers, x-ray technicians, social workers, CPAs, mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends… And they are all disruptive – and are now more committed to continuing disruption than ever. Such was the PPAI (Professional Patient Advocate Institute) Conference held last week in Orlando. It was a

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Seize the Moment! A Free and Easy Marketing Tip for Advocates

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It’s the best kind of marketing tip. There’s no cost to execute, it doesn’t take much time, and if your target audience is seniors, it’s a sure fire way to put you in front of them, providing an opportunity to describe your services and the benefits of working with you. No – it’s not public speaking. No – it’s not about “making the sale.” It’s much more subtle, and incredibly useful. While I don’t do this often, I’ve decided to reserve this tip for Premium and PACE members of The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates only. In order to find

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APHA Blog : The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates
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