Patient Advocacy Blogs
Patient Advocacy Blogs- Regina Holliday’s Medical Advocacy Blog
- Patient Power
- Ask Mann
- Tiffany and Lupus
- The ALPHA Blog
As healthcare takes on a much more consumer-focused model, patient advocacy has become an indispensable aspect of healthcare. Healthcare administrators, insurance providers, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are often trained as patient advocates. Patient advocacy is increasingly represented in areas of academic study concerning healthcare, such as degree programs in public policy and healthcare administration.
As the academic and digital worlds merge even more closely, a number of outlets that specialize in patient advocacy have emerged, from Twitter handles to blogs. Patient advocacy requires professionals to consistently update their knowledge of this critically important field, and the digital world provides a great number of resources to do so. Here are five blogs about patient advocacy.
Regina Holliday’s Medical Advocacy Blog
Regina Holliday writes, teaches, and speaks extensively on the subject of patient advocacy. In particular, she puts forth the idea that patients and their medical teams are equal partners, and that patients should and must be permitted to participate in their own care – including choosing treatment options as well as refusing specific treatments.
A working artist, Holliday also utilizes the visual arts to drive home the importance of patient advocacy and participatory care, and is the founder of the Walking Gallery, in which both patients and medical providers wear patients’ stories visually on the backs of their suits to increase awareness of the importance of patient advocacy.
Patient Power
Patient Power concerns itself with opening up channels of communication between patients and medical professionals around the world and providing cancer patients with appropriate support. Founded by Andrew and Esther Schorr, Patient Power is founded on the premise that via open communication, each patient can receive the care that is right for them – and that by having their medical professionals treat patients as participants to the recovery process, the overall quality of their lives – as well as their chances of surviving cancer – will be dramatically increased. The blog is funded by the Schorrs themselves as well as medical professionals, medical centers, and healthcare industry sponsors.
Ask Manny
Manny Hernandez, who was diagnosed with diabetes fifteen years ago, works to build connections between patients and the technical and business sectors of the healthcare industry. A passionate public speaker on the topics of diabetes and patient advocacy, Hernandez has made significant contributions to the field and addresses the importance of patient advocacy on the part of patients living with long-term and chronic conditions from diabetes to depression.
Tiffany and Lupus
The inspiring Tiffany Marie, based in New York City, lives with lupus – and her experiences led her to speak, teach, and write about patient advocacy specifically with regard to patients with lupus. Her blog, laced with humor and genuine heart, not only addresses symptom management for those living with lupus but the intersection of lupus, pharmacology, and long-term treatment for this debilitating disease. In addition to her blog, she has written for a number of healthcare publications including But You Don’t Look Sick and the Lupus Magazine.
The ALPHA Blog
A blog run by the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, this blog is geared towards educating medical professionals in patient advocacy, including best practices, new policies, and other topics of interest. The blog mainly caters to current or aspiring patient advocates in private practice and seeks to instruct private practitioners on how patient advocacy can help them grow their practice as well as maximize patient wellness.
Each of these blogs caters to a different aspect of patient advocacy from many different points of view. Whether you are already a patient advocate or you are seeking to become one, each will offer valuable knowledge on how best to help your patients – and make them truly part of their own wellness and recovery processes.
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