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What are the best ways to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant?

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If you are passionate about helping patients navigate the complex and often confusing healthcare system, you might be interested in becoming a patient advocacy consultant. A patient advocacy consultant is a professional who provides independent and personalized support, guidance, and representation to patients and their families in various healthcare settings and situations. As a patient advocacy consultant, you can work as a self-employed freelancer or contractor, or join an existing organization or network that offers patient advocacy services. But how do you gain the experience and skills needed to succeed in this rewarding but challenging field? Here are some of the best ways to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant.

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Melissa Cardine MSN, RN, BCPA

Experienced Nurse & Patient Advocate | 27 Years of Compassionate Care | Empowering Healthcare Professionals to Build…

1 Volunteer or intern

One of the easiest and most effective ways to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant is to volunteer or intern with a reputable organization that provides patient advocacy services or programs. This can help you learn the basics of patient advocacy, such as how to communicate with healthcare providers, how to research and understand medical information, how to handle insurance claims and billing issues, and how to support patients' rights and preferences. Volunteering or interning can also help you build your network, portfolio, and references, which can be useful for finding future opportunities or clients. Some examples of organizations that offer volunteer or intern positions for patient advocacy include the Patient Advocate Foundation, the National Patient Advocate Foundation, the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, and the American Association of Healthcare Advocacy.

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2 Get certified or accredited

Another way to gain experience and credibility as a patient advocacy consultant is to get certified or accredited by a recognized body or institution that sets standards and best practices for patient advocacy. Certification or accreditation can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and professionalism in patient advocacy, and can also help you stand out from the competition and attract more clients or employers. Some examples of certification or accreditation programs for patient advocacy include the Board Certified Patient Advocate credential from the Patient Advocate Certification Board, the Certified Patient Advocate credential from the Healthcare Liaison, and the Accredited Healthcare Advocate credential from the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy.

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Melissa Cardine MSN, RN, BCPA

Experienced Nurse & Patient Advocate | 27 Years of Compassionate Care | Empowering Healthcare Professionals to Build Their Own Patient Advocacy Practice
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Nurses and other licensed healthcare providers are already patient advocates. They have the education and experience to be an independent patient advocate meaning they are hired by patients and families and have their best interests in mind at all times. Unfortunately, the traditional healthcare system or lack of doesn't provide them the time and means to be the advocate they were trained to be. We need more healthcare providers especially nurses practicing private patient advocacy. As far as training find an independent advocate who has a similar background as you and who is actually doing the work you want to do. Ask them for an hour of their time to learn more about what they do as an independent patient advocate.

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3 Join a network or association

A third way to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant is to join a network or association that connects, supports, and educates patient advocates. A network or association can help you access resources, training, mentoring, and referrals that can enhance your skills and knowledge in patient advocacy. A network or association can also help you stay updated on the latest trends, issues, and regulations in patient advocacy, and provide you with opportunities to network and collaborate with other patient advocates. Some examples of networks or associations for patient advocacy include the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy, the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy, and the American Association of Healthcare Advocacy.

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Melissa Cardine MSN, RN, BCPA

Experienced Nurse & Patient Advocate | 27 Years of Compassionate Care | Empowering Healthcare Professionals to Build Their Own Patient Advocacy Practice
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National advocacy organizations are a great way to donate and volunteer your time. Most of these organizations are nonprofit organizations that rely heavily on volunteers to run their programs. It is highly encouraged if you are a practicing patient advocate to get involved in at least one non-profit organization that supports the advocacy community. The Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB) is one organization to research. Another suggestion is to look for advocates in your area. Ask them for a meeting to learn more about the professional organizations they are involved in that contribute to their career as independent patient advocates.

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4 Start your own practice

A fourth way to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant is to start your own practice and offer your services to clients who need your help. Starting your own practice can give you more flexibility, autonomy, and control over your work, and allow you to tailor your services to your clients' specific needs and preferences. Starting your own practice can also help you develop your entrepreneurial, marketing, and management skills, and grow your reputation and income as a patient advocacy consultant. However, starting your own practice can also be challenging, risky, and costly, and require you to comply with legal, ethical, and professional requirements. Therefore, before you start your own practice, you should do your research, plan your business model, secure your funding, and consult with experts and mentors.

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Melissa Cardine MSN, RN, BCPA

Experienced Nurse & Patient Advocate | 27 Years of Compassionate Care | Empowering Healthcare Professionals to Build Their Own Patient Advocacy Practice
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We need more healthcare professionals practicing patient advocacy, especially nurses. There are so many people who need our help. Starting your own practice can be daunting. It doesn't have to be. You can start building your practice as you work in your current job. As you build your practice you can decide when is the right time for you to leave working for someone else and completely working for yourself. This does not happen overnight. It takes time and work to build your own successful patient advocacy practice. The motivation is once you start practicing and you wake up every morning looking forward to working and go to bed every night feeling appreciated, you will want more of it, guaranteed. Eight years for me and no regrets.

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Michael Elwan

Founder, LEXs | Board & Advisory Member | Accredited Social Worker (AASW) | PhD Researcher | Lived Experience Leadership Advocate | MBA (Distinction), BCom (Accounting), MAASW | Views Are My Own
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Starting your own patient advocacy practice indeed offers a blend of opportunities and challenges. The autonomy and flexibility are enticing, and they allow you to deliver highly personalised services that can make a significant impact on consumers' lives. Additionally, this route offers the potential for personal and professional growth in areas like entrepreneurship, marketing, and management.

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5 Seek feedback and improvement

A fifth way to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant is to seek feedback and improvement from your clients, colleagues, mentors, and supervisors. Feedback and improvement can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, learn from your mistakes and successes, and improve your performance and quality of service in patient advocacy. Feedback and improvement can also help you maintain your professional standards, ethics, and competence, and keep up with the changing needs and expectations of your clients and the healthcare system. You can seek feedback and improvement by asking for testimonials, reviews, or referrals from your clients, by participating in peer review or supervision sessions, by taking courses or workshops, or by reading books or articles on patient advocacy.

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Michael Elwan

Founder, LEXs | Board & Advisory Member | Accredited Social Worker (AASW) | PhD Researcher | Lived Experience Leadership Advocate | MBA (Distinction), BCom (Accounting), MAASW | Views Are My Own
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Soliciting feedback can be a humbling experience but is essential for identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. Client testimonials, peer reviews, and supervisory sessions provide diverse perspectives that can yield actionable insights. It is these very insights that can inform my ongoing professional development, allowing me to better meet the evolving needs of consumers and adapt to systemic changes .

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Melissa Cardine MSN, RN, BCPA

Experienced Nurse & Patient Advocate | 27 Years of Compassionate Care | Empowering Healthcare Professionals to Build Their Own Patient Advocacy Practice
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One thing I wasn't prepared for when I left working in the hospital to practice patient advocacy is how receptive healthcare providers are to the services I provide. I set out to do what I loved as a nurse, listening to patients, coming up with a plan, and ensuring patients get the care they need and want. What I didn't realize is how much the providers would welcome and support the work I do as a nurse patient advocate. Once I explain what I do almost immediately the interaction is elevated and elevated in a good way. Little did I know my relationship with providers is now one of mutual respect and appreciation as I practice as an independent nurse patient advocate.

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What are the best ways to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant?

1

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3

4

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1 Volunteer or intern

2 Get certified or accredited

3 Join a network or association

4 Start your own practice

5 Seek feedback and improvement

6 Here’s what else to consider

Patient Advocacy

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What are the best ways to gain experience as a patient advocacy consultant?

1

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3

4

5

6

1 Volunteer or intern

2 Get certified or accredited

3 Join a network or association

4 Start your own practice

5 Seek feedback and improvement

6 Here’s what else to consider

Patient Advocacy

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