How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself and Others
Don’t get lost in the system. Careful note-taking, second opinions, and other strategies can help.
When you or a loved one is in a hospital or in the midst of complicated treatments, dealing with all the doctors, staff, paperwork, insurance, and sometimes conflicting information can be a challenge. One way to make navigating the system easier is by practicing what’s known as healthcare advocacy, which involves taking an active role in medical planning in order to optimize the decision-making. Here’s how.
Write Out a List of Concerns
Plan your questions before an appointment to avoid forgetting something, says Mariah Robertson, MD, MPH, an associate professor of geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. And get right to them because you may be given only 15 minutes, says AnnMarie Quintaglie Mcllwain, CEO of Patient Advocators.
Be a Good Historian
Knowing your medical history—including past diagnoses or procedures, plus any current symptoms—helps your provider care for you. Always bring an up-to-date list of your medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements.
Bring summaries, too, from other medical appointments, because that may help inform your care, Mcllwain says.
Make a Communication Plan
Take notes at your appointment (or have a family member or friend do it for you), but also ask your provider if they will provide notes and action points.
Be sure to ask how you can reach your doctor in an emergency and how you can get timely answers to questions that aren’t urgent.
If you’re in a hospital, ask how your provider will keep you and your family informed. And make sure you’ve picked a healthcare proxy, someone who understands your wishes and can make decisions if you’re unable to.
Consider Second Opinions
Before you agree to any significant procedure or treatment, it’s reasonable to ask for a second opinion. You may want to do the same if you think your concerns aren’t being addressed by the doctor.
For those who are in the hospital, Robertson says most facilities have patient advocacy representatives who can ensure that your needs are met or help you transfer to another hospital.
Outside a hospital, consulting another specialist or a family medicine doctor may help.
Older adults may want to consult a geriatrician. These doctors focus on “what matters to older adults in their life and health,” Robertson says. They “are trained to understand the unique complexity that comes with a long life.”
When to Hire a Professional
“The bureaucracy of healthcare is incredibly time-consuming and stressful,” says Caitlin E. Donovan, senior director of the National Patient Advocate Foundation. “The most important thing for a patient is that they are able to focus on feeling better.”
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the February 2023 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
