Health advocates work on behalf of patients by interfacing with health care institutions.
Working with patients by assisting them in obtaining the best possible care is the primary responsibility of a health care advocate. Professionals in this industry are trained to guide patients and their families as they deal with the complex issues related to medical care and any associated legal ramifications. Advocacy can be a very rewarding career for individuals interested in the health care field and possessing the ability to communicate with both patients and medical networks in an informative and supportive way.
Educational Background
Although it is not mandatory to possess an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite, it is advisable. Many professionals who enroll in specific advocacy training courses have backgrounds in nursing, social work, benefit-related jobs or some area of the health care field. Such experience is beneficial due to the broad-based responsibilities of the position. Advocates must understand insurance regulations, treatment options and laws that impact health care.
Training
Various colleges and universities offer live or online patient advocacy programs. The University of Miami has an online certificate course. Areas of concentrated study include understanding the patient illness experience, the process an advocate uses to facilitate patient needs and end-of-life ethics. Some colleges offer coursework designed for a specific segment of advocacy such as child care or geriatric health.
Advanced Education
Students or professionals currently working in the advocacy field may opt for more in-depth technical training by obtaining a master’s degree. A program sponsored by Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, combines coursework in ethics, law, health policy and physiology with the addition of individualized field work in various specialty areas. Students participate in three different field assignments often in clinical settings, heath maintenance organizations and nonprofit patient advocate foundations. Upon graduating with the advanced degree, students interested in furthering the cause of patient advocacy often obtain employment in government agencies.
Employment
Working in the field of advocacy involves interfacing at various levels on behalf of the patient. Employment can be found in hospitals, health care centers, long-term care facilities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Jobs are also available in the international sector. Advocates sometimes open their own business assisting clients based on a specified consulting relationship.
Consideration
Professionals enter the advocacy profession for different reasons. Oftentimes, becoming a health advocate is the end result of a soul-searching career change. Additionally, being placed at the center of a family health crisis may create a desire to stand in for patients requiring a support system. To be successful in this field, a large degree of patience, along with the ability to communicate with a variety of different patient personalities and organizational bureaucracies, is essential. It is a viable profession for individuals who find intrinsic value and reward in dedicating their careers to improving conditions for patients who require care, guidance and compassion.
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