Celebrate Patient Advocacy Week
It?s not much
fun being sick. Apart from not feeling well, your life is disrupted, you or your family must make complicated care decisions, and ? in the back of your mind ? there?s the worry you won?t make a full recovery.
So if somebody grabbed your hand and offered to make being sick a little easier, you would think he or she was heaven-sent, right?
To many a grateful patient or family member, patient advocates - who can be a navigator, health coach or guest relations designee - are like angels. The Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy (SHCA)'s Patient Advocacy Week (April 11-14) is a good chance to thank those who work tirelessly in departments such as Volunteer Services, Guest Relations or the Emergency Department.
Knowing that ER waits can be draining, Karen pushes around a cart of supplies to make sure those in the waiting room have pillows, blankets, and a paper or magazine to read. Sometimes she?ll even reconfigure the ER seating to accommodate groups or add extra chairs so that everyone has a place to sit.
?I like feeling like I?m approachable,? says Karen. People often confuse her for a police officer, social worker, registration associate or financial services representative. At times, she has to play these roles.
?I love my job; it was made for me,? Karen says. ?It?s not just about fixing people physically, but also fixing them mentally.?
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