Comments on: Health Care Advocacy – A Very Expensive Band-Aid

By: Blue Heron

Blue Heron — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:48:19 +0000

Agree with both post. Yes it is true that those who can pay do get more time with providers. Patients’ should be educated and be given this as a free available resource. Part of “navigating” the system is to keep the patient confused regarding insurance and guidelines within a particular facility. I also agree that patients and caregivers are passive until something comes up and then they must become concerned about their health care. Patient advocacy should be another free service built into part of the health care system at various levels.

By: Becky Ramsey

Becky Ramsey — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:10:33 +0000

Jen,

Your point is well taken, and I’d love to see a post on some of those free navigators if you could provide some links. Being in public health, though, I’m most often thinking of patients who have little access to and knowledge of these types of resources.

I think what really bothers me is more than just the navigation, but that it appears that those who can pay are getting more time with providers and earlier appointments.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:36:07 +0000

There are many free routes to gaining advocacy as a patient, however — such as the cancer navigators sponsored by the American Cancer Society or the assistance given by PAF, the Patient Advocacy Foundation. I think that part of the burden is on patients to learn how the system works — it is true that those who are familiar with how to navigate the system have better results, but many patients and caregivers are passive and don’t get as involved as they should in their own/their loved ones’ care.