Our second health advocacy workshop, held on May 19th in Oakland, California, was a great success! Forty attendees of various backgrounds, including nurses, social workers and others, gathered to learn about “The Emerging Field of Private Health Advocacy”. The goal of the conference was to give an overview of this important and exciting new field.
The day focused on what health advocates do, why they’re necessary, and how to get into the business of health advocacy. All of the participants had a personal story about dealing with the complexities of the health care system, and were interested in learning how to alleviate those frustrations for others.
We were honored to have Trisha Torrey join us from New York, to tell us of her personal challenges navigating the health care system. Trisha founded AdvoConnection.com, an important website that connecting people with health advocates, around the country. Trisha told the story of how she became a health advocate herself (look for that story in our next post), In addition to speaking about health advocacy, Trisha is an active blogger for about.com and is the author of You Bet Your Life! 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes.
The workshop offered some basic information about how to get into the business of Private Health Advocacy. The first question to consider was if it is better to work for oneself or an established company.
Each attendee was asked to take a personal inventory, and question whether they were willing to take a risk by stepping out on their own. Some of the questions that posed to attendees were 'are you a critical thinker?' and 'Are you able to find the answer to any problem?' The work of a Private Health Advocate is not always predictable, as each client presents a new and unique challenge.
The industry of Private Health Advocacy is still in its infancy, and beginning a business during this time is very exciting. But with that leap of faith comes a lot of planning and decision making. First and foremost you’ve got to believe in yourself and recognize that you have the skills to assist others in the navigating the complexities of the system. It might sound cliché, but it’s true!
I was very pleased with how the day unfolded, and with everyone’s reaction. Thanks to all that attended and for your positive and constructive feedback. I’m excited about the future Private Health Advocacy and believe that in a few years, everyone will want to have a Health Advocate! And I’m confident that Heartwood Health will make a difference in the lives of the clients we serve as well as contribute to the future growth of the industry. Our next workshop will be October 6th in Oakland, check our website for more details.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Could You Be an Advocate?
In anticipation of our workshop tomorrow, ”The Emerging Field of Private Health Advocacy”, A new career for you, - a new resource for your patients, I want to take the time to detail how one can become a health advocate. The complexities of our healthcare system seem to increase daily, as there are new options for treatment almost daily. Medical providers differ on diagnosis regularly and health reform is adding much confusion to the mix.
Patti and I have seen a growing need for a “bridge” between individuals and health care providers, and Health Advocate is increasingly becoming a household word. Also known as a Private Case Manager, a Geriatric Care Manager or Patient Navigator, Health Advocates are there to give peace of mind to their clients as they weave their way through the complexities of the medical system.
A master’s program in Health Advocacy has been in existence at Sarah Lawrence College since 1980, but certification and credentialing for our field is still in its infancy. While there are few training programs located in the US, many companies are now focused on providing this service, which bodes well for the future of health advocacy credentialing. As of now, entering a training program is the best bet for those interested in pursuing a career in health advocacy.
People with previous training and related work in health care are the best health advocate candidates. Their experience naturally gives them a leg up in the field, as working for a hospital or specific disease advocacy group can expose a person to the plethora of ethical and practical issues that health advocates need to be skilled in handling.
Our workshop is intended to give an overview of the field and prepare the participants to look further into a career in this exciting new arena of Private Health Advocacy.
Look for a summary later this week, and announcements on additional workshops later this year…
Patti and I have seen a growing need for a “bridge” between individuals and health care providers, and Health Advocate is increasingly becoming a household word. Also known as a Private Case Manager, a Geriatric Care Manager or Patient Navigator, Health Advocates are there to give peace of mind to their clients as they weave their way through the complexities of the medical system.
A master’s program in Health Advocacy has been in existence at Sarah Lawrence College since 1980, but certification and credentialing for our field is still in its infancy. While there are few training programs located in the US, many companies are now focused on providing this service, which bodes well for the future of health advocacy credentialing. As of now, entering a training program is the best bet for those interested in pursuing a career in health advocacy.
People with previous training and related work in health care are the best health advocate candidates. Their experience naturally gives them a leg up in the field, as working for a hospital or specific disease advocacy group can expose a person to the plethora of ethical and practical issues that health advocates need to be skilled in handling.
Our workshop is intended to give an overview of the field and prepare the participants to look further into a career in this exciting new arena of Private Health Advocacy.
Look for a summary later this week, and announcements on additional workshops later this year…
Friday, May 14, 2010
Advocating for the Deaf Community
As you look around our site or read about health advocacy online, you’ll probably come to realize that advocacy has about as many applications as people have health conditions. An important role of the Health Advocate is to educate and empower our clients. For most of us doing this work, advocating on behalf of a client comes naturally as we have had a personal experience helping family or friends. This is especially true for Patti, my business partner. Her older brother Ralph Jr. received a diagnosis of complete hearing loss over 50 years ago. Growing up before interpreters and programs for the deaf were commonplace, Patti and her family faced challenges in every aspect of Ralph’s life. At that point, signing was not mainstream. Ralph was bussed everyday for more than an hour to a school that taught lip reading. As he reached the age of 13, signing was becoming more common, and during his teen years, he lived on campus at the School for the Deaf in Berkeley, California. During those years, the family learned sign language, and Patti accompanied her brother to most events and family gatherings, becoming his primary interpreter.
Today, Ralph lives in Dublin, CA with his wife Maureen, who is also hearing impaired. Participating in hearing impaired community activities is a way of life for both of them. They often find themselves supporting a friend in need when a family member has become ill or needs assistance in another way. For example, Ralph is an excellent handyman and has replaced new windows or performed minor household repairs for friends and neighbors.
Ralph has always stood up for his rights, and sought out resources available to him. He is known for his strength and ability to show others how to advocate for themselves. His passion for motivating others is inspiring. Ralph is a huge advocate for the deaf, acting on behalf of his community whenever the need presents itself
Today programs such as the Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency (www.dcara.org) are widespread and utilized within the deaf community. DCARA is a nonprofit organization that provides its clients with the resources to make independent decisions. When Heartwood Health works with deaf and hearing impaired clients, they collaborate with DCARA to ensure that services are accessible. It is because of the strong advocacy of the community that being deaf no longer limits those who are affected.
If you have a story about someone who has been successful in improving life for a deaf or hearing impaired person please share it with us!
Today, Ralph lives in Dublin, CA with his wife Maureen, who is also hearing impaired. Participating in hearing impaired community activities is a way of life for both of them. They often find themselves supporting a friend in need when a family member has become ill or needs assistance in another way. For example, Ralph is an excellent handyman and has replaced new windows or performed minor household repairs for friends and neighbors.
Ralph has always stood up for his rights, and sought out resources available to him. He is known for his strength and ability to show others how to advocate for themselves. His passion for motivating others is inspiring. Ralph is a huge advocate for the deaf, acting on behalf of his community whenever the need presents itself
Today programs such as the Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency (www.dcara.org) are widespread and utilized within the deaf community. DCARA is a nonprofit organization that provides its clients with the resources to make independent decisions. When Heartwood Health works with deaf and hearing impaired clients, they collaborate with DCARA to ensure that services are accessible. It is because of the strong advocacy of the community that being deaf no longer limits those who are affected.
If you have a story about someone who has been successful in improving life for a deaf or hearing impaired person please share it with us!
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