You're looking for patient advocacy resources to improve your work. What's the best way to find them?

Few things that I find helpful: 1) Resource Reviews: Identify courses with positive recommendations/reviews, to ensure your learning journey is optimized through quality and relevance of the content 2) Opportunity to get qualified at your own pace: Use online courses not only for skill enhancement but also as preparation for patient advocacy certification exams! You have the option to access resources anytime, anywhere, thus maximizing the utility of your time. 3) Learning from others: Interactive courses foster a dynamic learning setting - enhances your understanding and retention of concepts. I often prefer choosing courses where I have the option of discussing with other learners!

Explore online platforms that offer courses on patient advocacy. Websites like Coursera, edX, or specialized healthcare education platforms may provide relevant courses.

In my experience the best patient advocacy strategies are learned via hands-on experiences. I recommend all aspiring advocates consider shadowing an established advocate to observe and learn from real-time, real-life situations. Remote learning is important and helpful, but watching effective patient advocacy in action is invaluable, in my opinion.

Personally there is always attached reference material (depending on the charting system) we usually are required to use. I think we are still not educating to the appropriate medical knowledge level. Patients say yes they understand often because they are ashamed to say no…long ways to go on education to prevention.

I find that many healthcare organizations already offer free subscriptions to online journals to their employees as resources to use. I would check your organization website for online library for free journals specific for topics you are interested in. Other organizations on patient safety/advocacy and education I find helpful include 1) American Association of Pediatrics 2) American Nurses Association 3)American Association of College of Nursing 4)Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and many more

Look for content created by specific patient advocacy groups. Notice specifically what resources, podcasts and content they and their patients trust. Also learn where are the gaps - what are patients in a given disease area struggling with. Knowing where patients need better or new information is a key insight to inform actions.

Many patient advocacy forums and groups exist online. Search Facebook for the condition in question to get feedback and information directly from those impacted.

And don't forget to reach out to those in the pharmaceutical industry, their advocate teams are always amazing from my many interactions with them. Not to mention, they have access to some information that can be difficult to get or, even better, information you didn't know existed.

Find patient resources by online sites, patient advocacy/support groups, webinars, journals patient advocacy organizations and asking patients.

One essential technique I’ve found necessary to ensure effective patient advocacy (and building thriving practices) is for webinars and podcasts to address the need to understand the emotional and business aspects of patient advocacy. Knowing how to accurately “read the room” of people an advocate is interacting with, and employ the right tone and attitude in conveying the needs of your client to decision makers, is important. Emotional intelligence cannot be underestimated. Also, knowing how to confidently assess and create effective strategies that will benefit your client is key. Strategizing, negotiating, and leveraging are essential skills every patient advocate needs to bring the right plan for each client to fruition.

Explore literature on patient advocacy, including books written by experts in the field and reputable journals that publish research and articles related to patient rights and healthcare advocacy.

Les livres et les revues sont une mine d'informations pour la pratique professionnelle en matiere de plaidoyer et de defense des patients. Voici 2 livres et 2 revues qui peuvent beaucoup aider: Livres 1) PAUL Buka et BRAZIER Margareth "Patients' Rights, Law and Ethics for Nurses: A Practical Guide 2) Jo Ann O'Toole "Patient Advocacy for Health Care Quality: Strategies for Achieving Patient-Centered Care" Notez bien: le premier livre mentionné concerne la pratique des soins infirmiers mais il explore des questions ethiques et juridiques importantes qu'un travailleur social ne peut s'en passer s'il veut etre performant dans la defense des patients. Revues 1) Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 2) Health Expectations

Access reputable medical journals and publications like The Lancet, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), or BMJ (British Medical Journal). These sources can provide in-depth insights into healthcare policies and patient advocacy initiatives.

NBNA has been instrumental in my professional and educational development as a nurse. Networking, educational opportunities, mentorship, and student scholarships are just a few ways in which students are benefited. Additionally, NBNA has a huge health policy arm helping members to advocate for patients at the local and national level.

Patient Advocacy Organizations: Explore websites of prominent patient advocacy organizations such as the Patient Advocate Foundation, National Patient Advocate Foundation, and Alliance of Professional Health Advocates. These organizations often provide guides, webinars, and other resources. Healthcare Associations like American Hospital Association (AHA) or the American Medical Association (AMA). These organizations may have sections dedicated to patient advocacy and resources for patients. Professional Development Organizations that focus on professional development in healthcare, as they may offer resources and training in patient advocacy. Examples include the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB).

I can speak most freely and appropriately of the AOTA, given I am an occupational therapist. My professional association provides a plethora of patient advocacy information as well as access to the American journal of occupational therapy where evidence-based articles can be found regarding the topic of patient advocacy and the specifics of OT and the kind of advocacy that’s in our scope of practice. (Spoiler-there is no type of advocacy that isn’t within our scope.) Furthermore, there are many resources for networking with other OTs and other organizations to connect over the topic of advocacy and share ideas regarding what has worked and what has not worked in other facilities. Your professional association is a great starting point.

Having a strong clinical knowledge base is essential to advocating for a patient. How can you advocate for appropriate treatment interventions without understanding what you are advocating for?

I highly recommend @Leigh Ann Kingsbury as a consultant/advocate for persons with disabilities. Also, IPFCC and Family Voices.

I got acquainted with the social services in my area. Searched on google maps for community resources for patients and did research on different community based programs I heard about through word of mouth and looked on the state government website

A strong business background will aid a patient advocate tremendously. An experienced professional in this field will understand the business structure that underlies American healthcare today. The business practices employed by hospital owners, physician group owners, and health insurance executives result in a greater than ever need for effective patient advocates. My opinion is that armed with an understanding of this structure, an advocate can know the best way to accomplish whatever goal or goals need to be accomplished for their clients.