You’re a Patient Advocacy professional. How can you stay connected with others in your field?

"Connecting in the World of Patient Advocacy ??: 1. Join professional associations. 2. Engage in online communities. 3. Network on LinkedIn. 4. Attend virtual events. 5. Explore local meet-ups. 6. Embrace mentorship. 7. Contribute to publications. 8. Collaborate on projects. 9. Stay educated. 10. Attend diverse healthcare events. Let’s build a stronger patient advocacy community together! #PatientAdvocacy #Networking"

Joining online communities is a great way to stay connected and get connected with new professionals, and even patients with whom you advocate for. It allows you to be an active member of the community which helps expand your network, find potential opportunities and genuinely be a better patient advocate professional. A lot of patient advocacy professionals are patients themselves or have a loved one who is a patient and we know the power of community. That power is true whether it’s within the patient community itself or even if a community of just professionals. Don’t be afraid to join online communities as they are genuinely an incredible way of connecting and becoming a better patient advocate.

reach out to your peers and show genuine interest in their work and well-being. You can send a friendly email, a message on social media, or a phone call to check in on them, congratulate them on their achievements, ask for their advice, or offer your help. Reaching out to your peers can help you strengthen your existing connections, create new ones

In the world of patient advocacy, team members are only as strong as their connections. Utilizing the knowledge of other professionals in your field can help you consider innovative ways to advocate for every patient and learn about specific patient needs so you are prepared to assist. Maintaining professional affiliations, attending workshops, and exploring online forums are ways the patient advocacy professionals can expand their knowledge to help promote optimal health for all.

To stay connected with others working in patient advocacy, think about joining groups on LinkedIn or other networks where people talk about healthcare rights. Going to meetings and online talks can help you learn new things and meet people who do the same work. It's also good to join online chats or social media groups where advocates share advice and support each other. Don't forget to read newsletters and articles about patient advocacy to keep up with what's new. This way, you can make friends in your field, share helpful tips, and work together to help patients better

As a Patient Advocacy professional, attending virtual events can be a valuable tool to stay connected with others in your field. Here are some ways you can make the most of your participation: 1. Find relevant events focused on topics of interest within patient advocacy. 2. Prioritize events that align with your goals and learning objectives. 3. Think about questions you have for speakers or topics you'd like to discuss with other attendees. 4. Seek out opportunities to connect with other attendees, especially those with shared interests or expertise. 5. Reflect on the event's value and how it contributed to your professional development. However, always remember that virtual events can only be effective if harnessed in a right manner.

Working in coalition with other organizations aligned with your objectives is a great way to meet other advocates and build strong relationships.

Learning what resources your community offers. Many communities, and I believe more will follow, offer a community paramedic that functions as a liaison between individuals needing assistance and the resources available for them. Staying in touch and aware of all the various “tools”, how to implement them, and follow up is paramount in being a patient advocate.

Another way to stay connected with others in your field is to attend virtual events that are organised by professional advocacy organisations or industry experts . Virtual events include workshops conferences or panel discussions that cover topics related to patient advocacy such as health literacy patients's rights ,patient engagement or patient safety . Virtual events helps you learn new skills

Attend local meetings and events: Look for advocacy-related events, workshops, or conferences in your area. This allows you to build relationships face-to-face. Volunteer opportunities: Collaborate with local organizations serving the communities you advocate for. This provides valuable experience and builds connections with other professionals. Another great way to connect with other health care professional advocates is trough mentorship programs: Seek mentorship from experienced advocates or offer mentorship to newcomers. This fosters personal and professional growth within the community. Ultimately is a win- win for you as an advocate, for patients and families alike.

The process of forming or becoming part of a mastermind group begins with identifying the key criteria that align with your goals and interests. This could be based on your geographical location, specific specialty within your field, or even the level of experience of the members. By ensuring that the group aligns with these aspects, you can maximise the relevance and impact of the interactions. Being part of a mastermind group offers numerous benefits. It helps in maintaining accountability – when you share your goals and progress with the group, it motivates you to stay on track. The group acts as a collective source of motivation and inspiration, encouraging each member to push their boundaries and strive for continuous improvement.

Mastermind groups allow for an expansion of an existing or new idea(s) that can often be triggered by someone's viewpoint that you might have not considered.

Mastermind groups are my favorite. It allows quality access to peer support, continued educational discussions, expansion of your professional network, and reflection on your professional growth and service delivery.

In my role as a Patient Expert, I have consistently benefited from participating in Mastermind groups. Here are three reasons for that: 1. Enablement: It enables collaborative problem-solving, allowing members to discuss challenges and develop innovative approaches. 2. Networking: The group promotes networking and resource-sharing, expanding access to information and collaboration opportunities. 3. Up-Skilling: It supports the personal and professional development of members through the exchange of experiences, skills, and motivation.

Creating or joining a mastermind group supports knowledge and experience sharing,diverse perspectives and gaining valuable insights in areas of common interests. As a member of mastermind group through brainstorming and problem solving skills,members tackle challenges with ease and transparency and come up with solutions.

Volunteering is a great way to give back of your time and be a part of a cause that impacts you on a level that is significant to your community or as an example to a child as a lesson on gratitude and thanksgiving.

As a Patient Advocacy professional, volunteering for a cause can be a fantastic way to stay connected with others in your field while simultaneously contributing to a worthy cause. Here are some suggestions for how you can achieve this: 1. Many organizations cater to specific patient populations or health conditions. You can leverage your expertise to support patients struggling with similar issues as your professional clientele. 2. Offer pro bono consulting by sharing your professional knowledge with smaller advocacy groups or individual patients can make a significant impact.

Volunteering for a cause through advocacy lens can be a powerful way to combine your passion for an issue with direct action and meaningful impact.

Volunteering expands your lenses to patient’s experience, create opportunity to network with like-minded individuals/organisations, increase visibility & provide platform to be involved in meaningful projects.

As an RT, the importance to educate patients on who to quit smoking is important. I would love to work myself out of a job. I'm thinking about doing a blog for Cpap patients too. Support is important for them to know they are not alone with their mask issues and other issues that can effect compliance. Health professionals could do community projects like this that help educate people in self care.

Allow co-worker's and/or peers a safe place to vent and voice their concerns without risk of retaliation. This allows them to relieve stress and anxiety which promotes more positive interactions with patient's/resident's. Also increase employee satisfaction, they feel heard and respected.

It is central to contact and bring support to your fellows, specially when the get sick. Not only you are fulfilling the mission you elected but also your phone call could be the only one that that person receives, making a world of difference for her/his

Empathy, Compassion, and Emotional Intelligence. These are some of the keys to understand peers and putting yourself in their shoes during their difficult moments. In addition, collaborate with them regarding their expertise rather than doing it all on your own. Everyone is leader in their own way, but remember that your personnel within your team are humans and understand their capabilities, limitations, and knowledges. But do not forget that you can also help by making them think outside the box and push themselves beyond their limits and capabilities.

I like to start my workday by saying Hi to my fellow teammates. Yes! make it a good day. We do have each others back! Another good day, now have a restful evening!

The benefits of reaching out to peers can vary depending on the context: In a work setting: Collaboration with peers can lead to increased productivity, innovation, and job satisfaction. In an academic environment: Study groups and peer support networks can help students learn more effectively and feel more engaged in their studies. In personal life: Connecting with friends and family can provide emotional support, companionship, and a sense of community. And connecting with peers on professional platforms can be enriching and inspiring.

I agree with all of the options that are presented in this post but there are a few factors that are missing one that immediately comes to mind is continued learning. It does not matter how the leaning is obtained but it should be a part of a patient advocate’s career path. The more we learn the better we are at ensuring that all patients reach the goal of better health outcomes.

Create an interactive, online community platform dedicated to patient advocacy issues, enabling real-time discussions and resource sharing. Organize virtual think tanks with interactive workshops and brainstorming sessions to tackle current challenges in patient advocacy. Collaborate on research projects or white papers with peers, blending different experiences and viewpoints. Participate in cross-sector partnerships, connecting with technology innovators to explore new tools for advocacy. These approaches offer dynamic, collaborative ways to connect and grow in the field.

Join hospital-wide committees. Medical centers and hospitals can be huge. Why limit yourself to only meeting employees on your unit. Joining hospital-wide committees not only gives you an opportunity to to meet others in the hospital but also serve as a chance to connect with other disciplines that have similar interests.

As a patient advocacy professional in the oncology field, I believe staying connected with others in the same field is crucial for sharing knowledge, best practices, and collaborating on advocacy efforts for better care to our cancer patients. We can participate in panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions to share your experiences and learn from others. The most important we need to stay updated on the latest developments in oncology and patient advocacy by attending webinars and virtual events hosted by reputable organizations or explore a roundtable discussions to share expertise and connect with professionals who share similar interests by participate in mentorship programs within the oncology patient advocacy community.

Listen to your people. Lived experience speaks volumes, far more than any webinar or training. Nothing I learned in school prepared me for working in the ‘real world’. Empathy. Respect. Listening. Doesn’t take much. You can’t teach someone how to care. Share your experience. There is always more to learn.