Every sick or injured patient needs a well person to safeguard their interests.
The TakeCHARGE Campaign (5 Steps to Safer Health Care) is moving to the fifth and final step of its 5-stage public awareness drive: “Use an Advocate, Be an Advocate for Others.”
Following four months of social media, and online seminars and presentations encouraging the public to take four basic steps that will raise the chances of successful treatment outcomes, the campaign now asks everyone to be prepared before there’s a medical need, by choosing an advocate.
What’s a Patient Advocate?
What is a patient advocate and who needs one? The second question is easy: everyone who is receiving treatment from the health care system needs someone (whether family, friend or a professional) to provide practical support to the patient and family, and be aware of the mishaps and poor practices that make medical error one of the leading causes of preventable death in this country.
Ilene Corina, BCPA, president of the nonprofit Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy which created the TakeCHARGE Campaign notes that, “Patient advocates may play different roles in different situations, but in the most basic sense, an advocate is a helper. They help the patient to be more involved in their health care, and hopefully, receive better outcomes.”
Selecting an advocate — or offering to be one for someone else — isn’t a formal, complicated process, especially when choosing a family member or friend. It’s a question of agreeing ahead of time what role the patient-to-be wants the advocate to fulfil. The TakeCHARGE Campaign has detailed information on how to go about it.
The Campaign’s social media platforms too offer hints, tips and encouragement.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/takechargecampaign/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/TakechargeC
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/takechargecampaign5steps/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/takecharge-campaign-5160a31a3/
Corina concludes, “The TakeCHARGE Campaign runs officially from March through August 2021, but we intend to maintain the momentum until everyone has had a chance to take the 5 Steps to Safer Health Care.”
For more information, and to host a presentation for your business, organization, faith community or even your family and friends, please call (516) 579-4711.
