#patient advocacy

[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

[thedisablednaturalist]

I found a great provider that does a ton of integrative care and even does aquatic therapy (its the ONLY place in the area that has an aquatic treadmill) and its all in one building right near my apartment. The only issue is it costs $300-500 per appointment as they are out of network with all insurance companies and I have an HMO plan. I was hoping I could just go there for physical therapy but that's still like $300 per appointment.

Apparently I can petition for a gap exemption since literally no other place has aquatic therapy in my area? but it can be a bitch to get your insurance to approve it

I'm now looking into patient advocacy groups to help with getting me the care I need because at this point I'm fed up with the search. I'm tired of being constantly referred to scam holistic centers and told theres nothing they can do for my pain now pay us $50 dollars. Apparently Myofascial Release Therapy and aquatic therapy would do great for my pain but there's no place that takes insurance that does that.

I found a patient advocacy center but it costs $150 an hour so what's even the point. There is one that is free but its for people with "serious chronic conditions" and idk if they'd consider my chronic pain and spine stuff serious enough.

Im just so tired and i dont have the spoons to do this on my own anymore. I'm paying hundreds a month on insurance but can't get the care I need since its too specialized/out there or theres no specialists near me in network. I thought I picked a PPO plan but apparently not. All this stuff is so confusing and complex and I don't have the mental energy to deal with it all. And you can't ask insurance for advice because they will give you bad advice! bc they dont want to pay for shit!!

I just want to live and stop getting fucked over. I'm tired of the 15 minute appointments that don't do anything for me. That are just so I can get refills of medication. That dont explain everything or look at all my records or listen to me.

Has anyone used a patient advocate outside of a hospital before?

[bowditch]

time for my pet PSA again:

if you or a loved one or friend are on an SSRI, please be aware that SSRIs inhibit activity of a liver enzyme that metabolizes some opioids. if you have surgery or an injury/emergency and your pain meds are not working, let your doctor know you might need a different class of pain meds. this info is from a major nine-year study and many doctors STILL don't know to flag contraindications for SSRIs in patient charts.

if you or a loved one are an addict, please be aware that SSRIs increase the risk of opioid overdose because of the uptick in dosage to achieve a high. (if nothing else, make sure you carry narcan in some form for emergencies. goodrx has information on where to get it for free or reduced cost in the united states, or you can search "free narcan" and your state or county in your favorite search engine. this is also useful for anyone who may have an opioid rx for pain management, in case of accidental overdose in the home.)

the study mentioned in the NPR article is here.

[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

[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.

[ivygorgon]

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

Say NO to Loony-Bins: Immediate Action Required for Inpatient Psychiatric Care

2 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

The current model of inpatient psychiatric care, which primarily focuses on safety and crisis stabilization, falls short in promoting sustained recovery. The prevalent emphasis on ultrashort lengths of stay often overlooks the need for comprehensive treatment plans.

A proposed model of care advocates for rapid diagnosis, goal-setting, and treatment modalities before initiating treatment, organized into three distinct phases: assessment, implementation, and resolution. This approach emphasizes individualized treatment and active patient involvement in treatment planning, addressing critical psychosocial aspects that are frequently neglected.

As we strive to reform the mental health care system, it's imperative to prioritize effective, recovery-oriented treatment strategies. This includes ensuring patient comfort and preferences are accommodated within reason. Considering patient preferences, like comfort items (such as safe stuffed animals; Share-Bears, if you will) and rescue medications (like melatonin,) is essential to upholding rigorous standards of care and safety.

Let's advocate for reforms that enhance patient-centered practices while adhering to established treatment guidelines and advancing recovery-oriented care.

Say no to “loony-bins;” those archaic relics that should be relegated to the distant past.

📱 Text SIGN PWORPV to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYPETITIONS to 50409

💘 Q'u lach' shughu deshni da. 🏹 "What I say is true" in Dena'ina Qenaga

[uptownsnail]

hello!

i'm an online student getting a multidisciplinary bachelor's in library science, patient advocacy, and spanish!

i'm disabled and i crochet, so my posts will be about academia, disability advocacy, spanish vocab/gen. language things, and crochet

this is a side blog, my main is @downtownsnail ♡

[mac-n-cheese-flavored-arson]

disabled folks, do y'all know of anyway that I can get help with scheduling appointments, keeping track of my doctors, and going to appointments with me to help with loading and unloading my wheelchair and patient advocacy? I'm not really able to do these things myself anymore. I don't even really know where to start, but I'm not longer taking care of my medical needs properly bc I just can't schedule and attend appointments by myself anymore and my health has plummeted because of it, what should I ask for? who should I even ask for this kind of program and help?

[patientvoicesmatter]

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." - Dale Carnegie

[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…

[uptownsnail]

ive had such a good semester since i transferred, turns out good school/professors/disability department = good grades

[favoritehomehealthcarellc]

In home health care in Frisco, Texas, medical social workers serve as a bridge between healthcare providers, patients, and families, addressing any barriers to care that may arise. They connect patients with valuable resources like community support programs, assist with navigating insurance questions, and even provide assistance in managing stress and mental health. This holistic approach helps patients get comprehensive support, enhancing their quality of life during their recovery or ongoing care journey.

[remirixjones]

Pap tests are one of the best tools we have for early detection of cervical cancer! But if you have a cervix and you're not able to get a pap test for whatever reason—eg. dysphoria, past trauma, inequitable access, etc—talk to your healthcare provider about alternatives! Self swabs are becoming more common! Pelvic exams can be done under sedation!

Just because pap tests are the best tool we have right now, doesn't mean they're the best for every single person. The best you can do is make an informed decision about what's right for your body.

*doom music starts to play* I actually kindof like scheduling these kinds of appointments now...

but seriously Fellas, don't forget to schedule a pap smear every couple of years just in case. If you still have a cervix you can still get cervical cancer. ilu

this has been a psa

[bnyrbt]

We all deserve to be free to live our lives without the government taking away our freedoms just because of who we are – yet anti-trans politicians continue to attack transgender people and their families by taking away their ability to control their bodies and health care. The Supreme Court must make clear in U.S. v. Skrmetti that the Constitution's protections apply to us all.

I'm joining the ACLU and people across the country in solidarity with trans youth and their families against cruel and discriminatory health care bans and for our shared freedoms. As ACLU lawyers argue inside, we're urging the Court to follow the Constitution and protect trans freedom.

Over 8,500 signatures acquired out of 10,000 wanted by December 4.

[gpstudios]

Title: Observing World Patient Safety Day: Advancing Health Care Quality and Safety

Introduction World Patient Safety Day, held annually on September 17, focuses on promoting and enhancing patient safety in health care settings worldwide. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding patients and improving the quality of care. Discover the significance of World Patient Safety Day, key areas of concern in patient safety, and ways to contribute…