A Patient Advocate, or Healthcare Patient Advocate, is responsible for assisting patients with a variety of illnesses or injuries in applying for insurance and determining treatment needs. Their duties include looking over insurance claims and helping patients compile the right documents, communicating with health care professionals in the local area to determine the right place for patients to receive care and contacting insurance companies to discuss alternative options after denying a patient’s claim.
A Patient Advocate should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Patient Advocate should be able to execute:
- Clarifying options to patients on their choice for hospitals, doctors and treatments
- Getting information for patients and asking specific questions
- Carrying out patient requests
- Writing down information and answers to questions for patients
- Accompanying patients to tests, procedures and appointments
- Solving conflicts and crisis situations with health care professionals and family members
A competitive Patient Advocate will have certain skills and qualifications, including:
- Listening skills to understand what the patients’ needs are and whether they have any problems or concerns
- Problem-solving skills to solve possible patient problems with health care professionals and insurance companies
- Decision-making skills so they can make choices on behalf of the patient
- Communication skills to work with patients, family members and health care professionals for a variety of situations
- Compassionate attitude in order to give emotional support and help the patients’ quality of life
