The existing healthcare system in the United States is missing a critical piece in patient care that is resulting in fear, pain, heartache, and even death, to many sick patients and their families. Many patients with serious and complex medical conditions are lost, terrified and, oftentimes, helpless, when trying to navigate through our existing healthcare system. This is not the fault of our healthcare professionals, the facilities in which they practice, nor the insurance companies. Rather, it is the result of the lack of a specific healthcare infrastructure that can offer patients experiencing serious health concerns, the ability to access understandable information and knowledge along with the personal advocacy that is necessary to elevate their care, and ultimately to improve clinical outcomes.
Supporting seriously ill patients and their families will take an entirely new approach and structure. A structure that includes the right people, with the right abilities, with the right access, working in partnership with medical professionals, hospitals, insurance companies and other stakeholders in a patient’s care. This new structure will be made up of self-employed, experienced Registered nurses competent in specialties for both primary and acute care, and case management. These Advocates would work directly for patients and their families and would manage communication and partner with the patient’s primary care physician, specialists, hospitals and insurance companies regarding medical treatment methods, medications, procedures and therapies. Each advocate would have a very limited number of patients, i.e., no more than 15 at a time depending on severity levels. This will optimize the communication and care on behalf of the patient. No actions, procedures, or treatments would be ordered or performed without the agreement, approval and referral of the patient’s physicians. This creates real partnerships.
Introducing Medical Advocates of America (MAA) – a not-for-profit membership organization comprised of the finest, most talented and experienced healthcare professionals. Advocates are granted membership based on their medical experience (at least 10 to 15 years), specialties, commitment to continued education, communications skills, and, most importantly, their ability to deliver the highest quality care with empathy and compassion. Through its new and unique organizational structure, MAA will be dedicated to creating effective, efficient and practical relationships between patients, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and insurance companies. Advocates will not only support patients’ medical care, but they will support their social and psychological well-being. This will provide patients and their families the opportunity to have an intimate, compassionate, personal and accessible relationship with a knowledgeable medical professional who will be there whenever they are needed.
The addition of MAA Advocates to the healthcare infrastructure will benefit doctors through having; always up-to-date status on their patient’s conditions, communication with medical Advocates to assure timely, accurate information and better adherence to doctors’ instructions. This will save doctors considerable time and help avoid misunderstandings. This improved Patient-Doctor-Advocate communication should also lead to fewer emergency room visits, less and shorter hospitalizations, better outcomes, less malpractice, less opioid addiction and save the healthcare system considerable expense by helping to avoid unnecessary procedures, duplicative services and overuse of medications. This will offer nurses an exciting future alternative to traditional bedside care and help to spark a renewed interest in the nursing profession. Advocates will be very highly compensated and will carry one of the most gratifying and respected roles in the healthcare industry. Medical Advocates of America will deliver better communication and better collaboration, resulting in improved patient experience and outcomes, while substantially saving both time and money to the entire healthcare system.
