How Do You Become A Patient Advocate?
Patient advocates are not doctors, and they’re not lawyers. Instead, they fall somewhere in between, helping the seriously ill navigate the often complex world of treatment options, patients’ rights, insurance and government benefits. They are, in a sense, a personal assistant for patients and their families, who help make sure they have all the information they need to make the best decisions and who make sure those decisions are carried out. Patient advocacy as a career is a relatively new niche created by the increased complexity of the for-profit medical and health insurance industries, though, so most positions are entry-level. Step 1 Get educated. It’s rare to find a college-level program devoted to patient advocacy. Instead, patient advocates come from a variety of backgrounds, but virtually all have some college-level education. Any degree in health care, medicine, public health or social work can be an important part of a resume. Others come to patient advocacy after careers i
