How Do You Advocate for a Patient With Other Professionals?
Navigating the complexities of patient advocacy requires skilled coordination and informed decision-making. This article demystifies the process by presenting practical strategies and insights from leading healthcare professionals. Learn how to effectively communicate, collaborate, and champion for patients in a multidisciplinary healthcare setting.
- Facilitate Multidisciplinary Team Meetings
- Ensure Comprehensive Senior Care Plans
- Present Objective Data for Evidence-Based Discussion
- Utilize Electronic Health Records for Informed Decisions
- Focus on Clear, Empathetic Communication
- Be an Intermediary Between Patient and Medical Team
Facilitate Multidisciplinary Team Meetings
Advocating for a patient's needs requires clear communication, a thorough understanding of their condition, and the ability to collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals. With over 30 years of experience in physical therapy, I've developed a strong foundation in clinical reasoning and the interpersonal skills needed to ensure my patients' voices are heard. One example that stands out is a case involving a professional dancer recovering from a complex knee injury. While they were referred to me for post-surgical rehabilitation, it was evident that their return to peak performance required input from multiple specialists, including their orthopedic surgeon, a podiatrist, and a sports psychologist.
Using my background in musculoskeletal care and understanding of high-performance demands, I facilitated regular meetings between the care team to align on a holistic treatment plan. I provided detailed progress reports on the dancer's mobility and strength milestones while incorporating feedback from the podiatrist regarding custom orthotics to optimize joint mechanics. The surgeon appreciated the collaborative updates, which informed decisions about the timeline for advanced load-bearing exercises. Ultimately, the dancer returned to their pre-injury performance level within six months, a timeline that would have been unachievable without this multidisciplinary approach. My qualifications and years in the field allowed me to act as both an advocate and a central point of communication, ensuring the patient's needs remained at the forefront throughout their recovery.
Ensure Comprehensive Senior Care Plans
When looking at how we advocate for our seniors, we find it starts with the original care plan. Ensuring the care plan is complete and contains all the necessary information is a foundational step. This means that all ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) are noted, as well as medication they are taking if you are managing meds. Please note, the MAR (Medication Administration Record) should include over the counter as well.
When the senior attends appointments, it is encouraged to have a caregiver accompany them (especially if there is no family member or friend available). A caregiver is able to take notes and ask questions on behalf of the family. The best part is that the caregiver is the one who sees this person most often. They can explain what is working or what may not be. They are able to give providers a glimpse into daily life. This is what makes them critical to the overall care plan for a senior.
If you are a caregiver for an agency, you are able also advocate through your administrative staff. If you have questions or concerns, relaying them to the scheduler, administrator, and nurse are great options. Oftentimes these people are in meetings with the healthcare providers or with the discharge planning team/social workers.
In turn, this all centers around communication and who has the most updated information. Oftentimes, it is the care staff. When asked how a care professional can advocate for a patient with other professionals, it's about asking good questions, and confidently sharing where they are at with their ADLs.
Present Objective Data for Evidence-Based Discussion
Good day,
I am Dr. Gregory Gasic, Neuroscientist, Scientific consultant, and Co-founder of VMeDx. I believe advocating for a patient's needs with other healthcare professionals requires a combination of clear communication, collaboration, and a patient-centered approach. The goal is to ensure that the patient's voice is heard and their best interests are prioritized across the care team.
One key strategy is facilitating evidence-based discussion by presenting objective data such as lab results, imaging, or clinical observations. I can frame the patient's needs in a way that resonates with other professionals' expertise. For example, in cases of cognitive decline or neurological conditions, I emphasize data-driven insights, such as neuroimaging findings or functional assessments, to guide treatment planning.
Additionally, active listening is essential. Understanding the perspectives and concerns of other healthcare professionals fosters mutual respect and ensures collaborative solutions. At the same time, I advocate for the patient's preferences, ensuring their values and goals are factored into decisions.
At VMeDx, we further empower care professionals with tools to streamline communication, such as virtual medical assistance platforms that provide comprehensive patient records and real-time updates. This ensures that all team members stay aligned, improving outcomes and delivering care that reflects the patient's needs. Advocacy, at its core, is about bridging gaps and uniting the team around the patient's well-being.
Utilize Electronic Health Records for Informed Decisions
As care professionals, we fight for our patients' needs through clear, evidence-based communication with physicians, specialists, and healthcare teams. Electronic health records (EHRs) accurately present patient data, from symptoms to medical history to treatment responses, that enables informed decisions. We also triage and coordinate care, do follow-ups, and clarify treatment, ensuring the patient is fully informed about options.
The advocacy doesn't stop with those directly involved with patient care. We engage with virtual medical assistants and healthcare support teams to eliminate the burden of documentation, bolster patient education, and facilitate a more well-rounded approach to patient care across the continuum. Through active listening and unwavering dedication, partnering with members of the healthcare team, we continue to advocate for our patients and give them the personalized, high-quality care they deserve.
Focus on Clear, Empathetic Communication
When advocating for a patient's needs with other healthcare professionals, I focus on clear, empathetic communication. It is about framing the conversation around what is best for the patient, supported by both clinical evidence and a deep understanding of their personal context. Whether it is in a multidisciplinary team meeting or a quick case discussion, I make sure to articulate the patient's needs, highlighting not just the medical facts but also the psychological and emotional factors that might influence their care.
Carepatron's collaborative tools help streamline this process, making it easier for healthcare teams to share insights, notes, and updates in real time. This ensures that advocacy is not just verbal; it is embedded in how information flows across teams. Active listening also plays a huge role. Understanding the perspectives of other healthcare professionals helps me find common ground, making advocacy more effective. It is not about pushing an agenda; it is about creating a shared understanding of what will truly benefit the patient.
Ultimately, it comes down to keeping the patient at the center of every discussion. At Carepatron, we are committed to supporting this approach, ensuring that technology enhances collaboration, empathy, and patient outcomes.
Be an Intermediary Between Patient and Medical Team
Good day,
Communication, collaboration, and persistence are important in advocating for a patient with other healthcare professionals to help manage their care. Perhaps the best way to advocate is to be an intermediary between the patient and the medical team, communicating the patient's concerns, preferences and medical history with clarity. This may include advocating during rounds, case discussions, or interdisciplinary meetings to bring attention to individual patient needs that might otherwise be missed.
Another important tactic is using evidence to back up advocacy efforts. Click here to learn more about how sharing Clinical Practice Guidelines, studies or prior case management systems can strengthen your case when asking health care professionals to change treatment plans, request additional tests, or consider alternative therapies. This also makes patient advocacy more persuasive because it is data driven.
And the other aspect is empowering the patient. Enabling patients to comprehend their ailment, all possible treatments, and their rights can make them active participants in decisions surrounding their own care. This could mean translating the medical jargon into something simple, assisting with informed consent, or coaching them on how to voice their concerns to the medical team. A highly educated patient often is in a better position to advocate for themselves with their care team.
In cases where there will be differences of opinion or pushback, the ability to find common ground and negotiate is key. Conflict resolution through respectful engagement with other healthcare providers, asking for second opinions, creating a forum for dialogue, etc. can assist in finding a resolution while ensuring the best possible interest of the patient is kept at the forefront.
Patient advocacy is done well when the patient's welfare is at the center of healthcare decisions, resulting in improved health outcomes and a better experience in the healthcare system in general.
