Who Is the Patient Advocate?

Today we'd like to share an important article from Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH) on the fast-growing solution to several challenges in healthcare, found in private patient advocates.  One of our number one inquiries at MIPS is how to find or how to be a patient advocate. This article has some great insights into why the patient advocacy movement is growing.


The Institute for Healthcare Improvement defines a patient advocate as a “supporter, believer, sponsor, promoter, campaigner, backer, or spokesperson.” This can be a family member, a close friend, or a caregiver, but it’s increasingly an independent professional who specializes in helping patients and families make sense of their healthcare options. Private patient advocates first and foremost serve patients, but they also see themselves as partners in the healthcare team.  They share the clinician's goals of doing what's right for the patient.  “The biggest benefit is enhanced patient-provider communication, which also enhances patient safety and clinical outcomes,” explains Jessica Tulloss, owner and patient advocate for TrueCourse Healthcare Consulting LLC in Roswell, Georgia.

When patient advocates help their clients work through healthcare challenges, they find patients become more engaged in their care and more satisfied with their providers. Patients also typically become more compliant with medication and follow-up appointments.  A private patient advocate can also help organize information to present a full picture to physicians.

Megan Headley | Who Is the Patient Advocate?

The professional role of a personal patient advocate has been growing with the recommendations of US clinicians, and we hope to see more of this soon in Canada.  You can read the full article here: https://www.psqh.com/analysis/who-is-the-patient-advocate/