What is the role of a Patient Advocate?

The role of a Patient Advocate is fundamentally centered around ensuring that patients have a voice in their own healthcare decisions. This includes supporting patients in understanding their rights, facilitating communication between the patient and healthcare providers, and helping them navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Advocates empower patients to express their concerns, preferences, and values regarding their care, thus promoting shared decision-making.

By focusing on the patient's needs and preferences, advocates help ensure that the patient's perspective is considered in every step of their healthcare journey. This can be particularly crucial in situations where patients may feel overwhelmed, uninformed, or unable to speak up for themselves.

In contrast, enforcing medical laws, providing medical treatments, and making healthcare decisions on behalf of patients are roles that extend beyond the scope of a Patient Advocate. Advocates are not typically responsible for enforcing legal regulations or administering treatments, nor do they make decisions for patients. Their purpose is to support and empower patients to take an active role in their own healthcare.