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A patient advocate is someone who acts as a liaison between the patient and the healthcare provider. The advocate seeks to optimize the delivery of health care.
Assistance to Providers
Patient advocates can help providers by pointing out potential problems and improving communication with patients. They can help patients understand procedures and improve compliance.
Assisting Families
Patient advocates provide support and referral services for patients and their families and help coordinate care among different providers.
Monitoring Care
Patient advocates monitor potentially conflicting treatments and medications. They may update and maintain a comprehensive record of the care provided and make it available to different practitioners.
Accounting
Patient advocates may assist patients and their families in managing financial accounts, insurance matters, home health care, communication with government agencies and relations with employers.
Patient Privacy
Patient advocates maintains the privacy of patients, details of their care and communication between them and their providers, according to law.
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