#patient advocacy

[godtier]

so i feel like i should probs mention this for anyone who might come across it as a bit of a PSA.

last week, i ran into an issue with a nurse practitioner because my former PCP moved away. i'm not gonna go into major details here because i tend to keep my personal life offline, but the bottom line was that this nurse practitioner:

changed my meds without my consent (basically guilting me about it, since they are controlled substances in the USA)

claimed my former doctor was just "prescribing whatever her patients wanted," implying i asked to be prescribed the meds i was on (i did not)

implied other doctors "toe the line of safety" in the practice

lied about inter-medication reactions (i.e.: claimed that a certain combo i was on was "dangerous" when it was not)

prescribed me a medication that actually does interact with another medication i already take (whereas the previous one did not)

tried to obfuscate information and change the narrative from "i don't want to prescribe controlled substances" to "i care about your safety"

reason i bring this up is because i feel like a lot of young people don't really know what to do in a situation like this, especially if they're taking a controlled substance (at least in the USA).

so what do you do if a doctor, nurse practitioner, or other medical professional tries to take your necessary medication away due to it being a controlled substance? if you're in a wider hospital network (i.e.: clinics that are not actually in a hospital, but might operate under a hospital "banner," like "cleveland clinic," for example), you do have an option to take.

it's called a medical ombudsman, or patient advocate. these people are employed by the health care company, but their sole purpose is to keep the medical professionals in check to ensure that those practitioners are actually operating with the patient's best interests in mind.

they also cover things like inappropriate behavior (sexual harassment, non-medically needed touching etc), disrespectful behavior (sarcasm or unwanted teasing, etc), and so on, but they will absolutely assist you with things like being denied a medication you've taken for years because the doctor "just doesn't feel like it," basically.

you can first start by searching for "patient advocate [clinic name]" to see what results populate for you. they typically operate over the phone, but some departments will also have an email address you can message, too.

i know that's a lot of info but

tl;dr: if you have been denied medication by a doctor or other prescribing staff that you have been taking for a long time and there is no medically sound reason for you to be taken off of it, you should absolutely contact an ombudsman or patient advocate to fight on your behalf.

don't be intimidated by medical professionals. they are supposed to be there to help you, not scold you or guilt you about your disorders or illnesses. it's especially bad for my ADHD folks out there, since most of us are prescribed stimulants/controlled substances that are medically necessary for us to function.

doctors tend to get blinders on, only thinking of the larger picture and what that means for their job security. it is 100% true that doctors have to be careful when prescribing these medications due to their addictive properties. they should do their own due diligence to determine medical need and not simply "give" their patients what they want. but an alarming amount of them are also straight-up denying people medication that they've been on because it's easier to prescribe them a non-controlled substance that might work, but also might not work as well or even have its own set of undesirable side-effects.

that's all. don't allow yourself to be bullied.

[dianasmobilenotary]

A Medical Power of Attorney (POA) is a critical document that designates someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This ensures that your medical wishes are respected and followed, even when you cannot communicate them yourself. However, to guarantee its validity and acceptance, notarizing your Medical POA is essential.

[humanhealthadvocates]

Human Health Advocates - Reducing Medical Debt & Overcoming Insurance Denials Since 2015

Human Health Advocates, founded in 2015, specializes in reducing medical debt and overcoming insurance denials. With around 100 successful negotiations across various states, they have helped numerous patients lower their medical expenses. Their services include understanding medical bills, resolving contested situations, and negotiating with hospitals and insurance companies.

[archoadvocacyllc]

[bentnecklevite]

WHY WON’T MY PATIENT ADVOCATE LISTEN TO MEEE HOLY FUCK I’M TIRED OF ANSWERING HER QUESTIONS JUST TO BE ASKED THE SAME THING AGAIN AT LEAST TWICE

MA’AM

IDK WHAT ELSE YOU WANT

I CANNOT MAKE A DOCTOR DO WHAT HE’S LITERALLY UNQUALIFIED TO DO

[uptownsnail]

my major is multidisciplinary so it has several different concentrations and i want to add gerontology with a focus on patient advocacy so my whole degree would be Library Science and Gerontology - Patient Advocacy And A Spanish Minor. yes it would take me longer to graduate but im already beind my peers and im also online so who cares not me

[patientvoicesmatter]

[metalheadsforblacklivesmatter]

I don't care if your 9, 20, 35, or fucking 50. Your patents can go to the doctor with you. It's called your patient advocate.

See I have bad reactions to medications and sometimes those conversations with doctors go

"so what was your reaction?"

"Honestly I cannot remember"

Sometimes it's symptoms like brain fog that causes me to not remember. Sometimes I lose time. Sometimes I just sleep so much. There's a lot of reasons why I can't remember. But I always remember it was really bad the doctor should know I had a really bad reaction.

And I do not have a partner that can go to appointments with me.

So I bring a parent.

Why? Because when the doctor asks "What was the reaction" the parent actually remembers.

But the number of doctors that have infantilized me "You're a grown adult you don't need your parent."

And the thing is. I know what the doctor is doing when they do this. My parents won't let the doctor dismiss my symptoms because my parents are the ones that have to drive me to the emergency room when they get too bad. But if the doctor refuses to let my parent in "You're a grown adult" the "diagnosis" I get is always "Oh, it's just anxiety".

And I feel like doctors know when I'm having brain fog and therefore they can take advantage of me like that because I'm too confused to argue with them. "Oh. Why do you let your doctor talk to you like that". YEAH THAT'S A SYMPTOM OF MY MIGRAINES. THAT'S KINDA WHY I'M GOING TO THE DOCTOR.

-fae

[sickpunk-selfshipper]

Your F/O accompanying you to doctor’s appointments and advocating on your behalf/ having your back about patient’s rights/ amplifying your voice so the medical professionals listen

Your F/O sitting down with you and showing you the heaps upon heaps of information they collected/ learned about patient advocacy

antis DNI! This post is not for anti-shippers

[archoadvocacyllc]

At Patient Advocate Services, we help individuals navigate the healthcare system effectively while upholding their rights and voices. From managing insurance claims to exploring treatment options, we're here for our patients every step of the way.

[govic17]

Using Medical Wisely

Dr. Leslie Kernisan has a new post out in her “Better Health While Aging” series regarding regarding issues that seniors may have in dealing with emergency rooms or urgent care.(1) Part of her story involves a pelvic fracture from a fall that went undetected during an Emergency Room visit. It’s a good and certainly worth reading, but it illustrates three more general points about health care…

[patientvoicesmatter]

[pro-birth]

TW: medical negligence, gaslighting, and birth trauma are discussed. But so worth the read. Women and their children have a right to the best care possible.