What Does a Patient Advocate Do? Job Description, Salary, Requirements

Whenever people need help in preparing their taxes, they employ the services of a tax lawyer. It also applies when people have a case in court, they hire an attorney who will help them to win the case.

This is exactly what a patient care advocate does for patients when they visit the hospital for treatment.

Most times, patients do not get the exact attention they need in a hospital. Maybe the patient needs to run a test or there is a delay in administering treatment. In fact, hospitals know that most times, these things happen.

In such a situation, the patient may not be strong enough to inquire about the cause of such delay.

This is the reason hospitals have patient advocate assistants to help avoid these problems. A patient advocate will make your voice to be heard while you get the necessary attention you need in the hospital.

The work in collaboration with other staff members of the hospital before, during, or after a patient’s stay in a hospital to take care of questions and problems.

So, this article will explain in detail what a patient advocate assistant does. You will also see examples of situations where the services of patient advocates are needed.

Additionally, you will know the educational requirements and how much you’ll earn as a patient advocate.

See the table of contents below for a highlight of salient points discussed.

Who is a Patient Advocate?
What Does it Mean to be a Patient Advocate and Why is that Important?
What does a Hospital Patient Care Advocate do?
What Requirements do I Need for Patient Advocacy?
What is the Salary and Job Outlook of Patient Advocates?
How Can I Find a Patient Advocate?
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Recommendations

Who is a Patient Advocate?

This is healthcare personnel that helps a patient through the healthcare system. Examples of these include going through the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a medical condition.

This professional assists patients communicate with their healthcare providers to get the information they need to decide about their health care. In addition, they may help patients book appointments for doctor visits and medical tests, get financial, legal, and social support.

These professionals, on the other hand, may work with insurance companies, employers, case managers, lawyers, and people who may influence a patient’s healthcare needs. Here, the personnel is called a patient navigator.

However, patient advocates are grouped into two specialties including:

General patient advocates: These healthcare professionals help patients with all the steps of receiving care including finding the right doctors and choosing the best treatments.
Medical billing advocates: They focus specifically on helping patients understand their bills, contest inaccurate billing, and negotiate for bills to be reduced.

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What Does it Mean to be a Patient Advocate and Why is that Important?

The most important part of your job for patient advocates (nurses) is providing quality care. But, high-quality care involves more than knowing the disease; nurses also act as advocates for patients.

They can help patients make informed decisions about their health, including helping them navigate a complex medical system, translate medical terms, and help patients make ethical decisions.

Because they have the most direct interaction with patients, nurses are in an ideal position to act as advocates. When nurses successfully advocate for their patients, their work supports healing.

What does a Hospital Patient Care Advocate do?

You may ask to know the duties or responsibilities of these advocates in the hospital. However, below are the duties which that patient advocates render to patients in the hospital:

Offers the hospital’s patient rights philosophy to patients by introducing them to the patient right’s brochure; confirm if they understand who to contact for questions.
Avoids complaints by counseling with supervisors and managers who see an upcoming problem; providing suggestions to resolve potential complaints; changing practices that cause frequent complaints.
Records complaints by paying attention to the patient’s and family’s complaints; documenting details; determining what resolution is sought.
Settle complaints by listening to patients and their families; directing them to a physician or supervisor; assisting them present facts to the hospital representative; creating acceptable resolutions; following-up on outcomes.
Notifies the legal department and administrator by keeping records of unresolved complaints and potential legal actions.
Maintains patient and family confidence by keeping complaint information confidential.
Enhances quality results by studying, assessing, and re-designing patient complaint processes as well as implementing changes.
Updates patient advocacy knowledge by taking part in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
Serves and protects the hospital community by complying with professional standards, hospital policies, and procedures, as well as federal, state, and local requirements.
Improves patient advocacy and hospital reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

What Requirements do I Need for Patient Advocacy?

In order to become a patient advocate, the requirements that you must meet before becoming one include:

Education

The only education which this occupation requires is a high school diploma or GED. However, knowledge in the field of medicine is generally preferred because the job requires an in-depth understanding of the healthcare system and the ability to explain diagnoses and treatments.

Acquiring a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in any health-related program will help aspirants to be very successful in this role. You can find the preferred degrees in nursing, healthcare, medical record administrative, or medical assisting.

Training

There are several online and offline training options for aspirants who wish to acquire formal education. Some of these programs place students on internships in hospitals, medical clinics, and health centers during their period of study. This gives them the knowledge and experience that employers want.

The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates offers opportunities for networking with advocates who are currently in the field and provides internship opportunities.

Certifications

Even though advocates do not require certifications, there are some certifications that can help them to become stronger when seeking career opportunities. They include:

Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA): This certification is designed to assure the public that the patient advocate has the standards and competencies to succeed in the role. The Patient Advocate Certification Board provides an exam handbook, competencies, and best practices, key terms, and a study guide to help prepare candidates for the exam.
Professional Patient Advocate Certificate Training Program: The purpose of this program is to introduce professionals to the practice of patient advocacy. It is open to all professionals who have a standard level of experience in healthcare. It is administered by the Professional Patient Advocate Institute.

Skills

Apart from the education and training which patient advocates require, there are certain vital skills that they need. The skills include:

Communication skills: These skills include written and verbal communication as well as reading nonverbal cues. Patient advocates need to explain in simple terms the complexities of the healthcare system to the patient including insurance forms, options for insurance coverage, complex medical diagnoses, treatment plans, and medication information. Additionally, they need to read patient nonverbal cues including body language and facial expressions to understand what the patient or their family members have in mind but do not want to say.
Problem-solving skills: They include analysis, research, and decision-making. Advocates may need to help patients find medical coverage or assist them to make difficult medical decisions. They may need to help patients argue insurance claim denials or work with insurance companies to settle billing issues.
Interpersonal skills: They include relationship management, collaboration, workplace etiquette, a positive attitude, and empathy. Advocates serve as the third-party that eases the communication between hospital administrative staff, medical personnel, insurance companies, and patients. Additionally, they provide emotional support to patients in their challenging times. Advocates must possess empathy and compassion to succeed in this role.
Public speaking skills: Patient advocates must possess strong public speaking skills to be comfortable while speaking to groups of people, families, and other members of the healthcare community.
Attention to detail: This skill enables the patient advocate to review medical bills and insurance claims for accuracy and completeness. Every advocate requires strong attention to detail in order to be successful at these tasks.

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What is the Salary and Job Outlook of Patient Advocates?

A survey by the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy shows that the average salary of patient advocate assistants is $51,895. However, reports of three respondents from the survey showed that their salary is more than $100,000.

Meanwhile, the salary of patient advocates holding a doctoral degree ranges from $70,000 to $75,000. The salary of advocates with master’s degrees rages from $55,000 to $60,000 while those with bachelor’s degrees range from $50,000 to $55,000.

According to the BLS, advocates are projected to experience a 2% decline in employment between 2018 and 2028. The Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes patient advocates as customer service representatives.

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How Can I Find a Patient Advocate?

Health insurance companies provide patient advocates on some occasions. So, you can start looking for a patient advocate by asking your health insurance company if they cover the cost of using a patient advocate.

However, if your health insurance doesn’t include this service or you don’t have health insurance, check for one at any hospital closest to you. Hospitals, nursing homes, and senior living communities sometimes have in-house patient advocates.

Bear in mind that advocates are on the hospital payroll. In some cases, patients may decide to go for the services of the professional since he/she understands the workings of the hospital better than an outsider.

If the two options above do not suit you, you can hire an independent patient advocate. You can actually get them around your area through organizations like the Patient Advocate Foundation and the Advoconnection Directory

Conclusion

Several times, patients do not return to a particular hospital because of the hospital’s insufficient services. It could result from high billing or delay in the administration of medication.

But with the help of a patient advocate assistant, issues like this and more will never arise. This healthcare professional always ensures that patients enjoy maximum healthcare satisfaction with no complaints or regrets.

If you always feel unhappy after visiting the hospital and want your voice heard, you can hire a patient advocate during your next visit. This will make the healthcare you will receive be the best and one that will fit your personal beliefs and values.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does patient advocate charge?

The cost of a patient advocate differs from one area to another and according to expertise level. Most patient advocates charge hourly rates starting from $100 per hour to almost $500 an hour. While patient advocates charge between $100 to $500 per hour, the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation offers its services to patients free of charge.

How can I get certification in Patient Advocacy?

You can acquire certification in patient advocacy by:
1. Becoming active in professional patient advocacy.
2. Completing the candidate application.
3. Completing the candidate demographic profile.
4. Taking and passing the BCPA certification examination.
5. Accepting the BCPA Terms for use of the credential.
6. Accepting to abide by and uphold the BCPA Code of Professional Conduct.

Must patient advocate always be available in Hospitals?

Yes, it is. The Joint Commission (the accreditation body for hospitals) requires a patient advocate to always be available in a hospital.

References

Recommendations

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What Does a Patient Advocate Do? Job Description, Salary, and Requirements

Table of contents

Who is a Patient Advocate?

What Does it Mean to be a Patient Advocate and Why is that Important?

What does a Hospital Patient Care Advocate do?