3. You can readily find support to get you started…
There are multiple Patient Advocate Certificate programs around the country. The cost and time commitment for these programs varies. You can also check out these national organizations: National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants, Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and the Professional Patient Advocate Institute.
…but accreditation is still in the works.
A national credentialing exam will likely be available in late 2018. Check the Patient Advocacy Certification Board for updates.
4. The pay can be lucrative…
Hourly private billing varies depending on what part of the country you live in with a range of anywhere from $75 to $250 per hour.
…but you’ll have to be willing to give up hands-on care.
Patient advocates are consultants only. Our business model is similar to what attorneys follow. They pay for our expertise, clinical savvy and ability to work “the system” on their behalf, protecting their rights and avoiding medical error.
5. The field is incredibly rewarding…
As a patient advocate, you will help put patients first, above the money and corporate policies and bureaucracy that can sometimes interfere with them receiving the best care. That’s because when patients and their families pay you privately to protect, guide and support them as they navigate the healthcare system, your only allegiance is to them. Follow the money to see who keeps the patient front and center. That’s what makes patient advocacy so rewarding. It is the purest, greatest form of nursing I have ever known.
Owner, NShore Patient Advocates, Chicago
Teri Dreher, RN, CCRN and iRNPA, is an author and award-winning RN patient advocate. A critical care nurse for more than 30 years, today she is owner/founder of NShore Patient Advocates, the largest advocacy company in the Chicago area. A pioneer in the growing field of private patient advocacy, she recently published her first book, “Patient Advocacy Matters.” www.NorthShoreRN.com
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