Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyers’ Blog

Patient Advocacy: A Growing Business

How many of us have gone to a emergency room, or even to a doctor's office, and waited for what seemed to be an eternity to be examined?  How many of us have been in a hospital or a doctor's office but felt that the staff was not hearing our complaints?  Unfortunately, these experiences can be all too common.  In our legal practice, we often see the tragic consequences that can result from long delays and failure to listen to patient complaints.  Sadly, we have handled numerous cases in which patients have died or have suffered life-changing injuries from conditions that were treatable with earlier intervention. 

Recently, we have been reading a great deal about an emerging business industry - patient advocacy.  A recent article in the Arizona Daily Star discussed the role and merits of patient advocacy.   The patient advocate works on behalf of a patient to ensure that the patient receives the best possible medical care.  These advocates can help monitor patient medication, review patient treatment plans, provide detailed patient medical histories, alert overworked nurses when vital signs go bad, coordinate care as nurses and doctors change shifts, and look out for patient comfort, hygiene and mobility.  The use of patient advocates appears to be most prevalent during hospitalizations and nursing home visits. 

For more informaton about patient advocacy, check out these websites below.  We do not have any affiliation with these companies, but found that their websites provide helpful information for you in considering whether to hire or use a patient advocate.
Patient & Family Advocates, LLC
The Family Advocate
COPE Patient Advocates

Please note, however, that a patient advocate does not always have to be a hired advocate.  Family members can always serve as an effective advocate if they are willing to become actively involved in the care of a loved one.