Bedside Advocates
Bedside Advocates is a group of Boston Area retired physicians with a new mission: provide volunteer advocates to patients and their families to help them navigate the healthcare setting.
They hope to make it a nationwide model of retired nurse, physician assistants, and, other health care providers who will accompany patients along their journey, and, speak out for them, answer questions, or, just keep them company.
This idea is not without controversy, though, as physicians and hospitals are concerned about privacy issues, and, liability.
Even with the unanswered questions, what a wonderful idea! I don’t support it because I think health care systems are “out to get” a patient and they need protecting, I just know how important it is for you to feel like someone caring and knowledgeable is with you during a stressful time.
I’m a nurse, and, even though I knew what was going on when my mother was hospitalized with cancer, it still would have been nice to have someone with the time to answer questions. I have no idea how my parents would have fared if I wasn’t a nurse, or, if I wasn’t around during all that hospital time, but, so many people go through it on their own.
I wish the best to this dedicated group.
via Hsien
This sounds like an awesome thing. Especially as you said, for those that don’t have help around them.
I was a EMT in a previous (career) life, and have some limited knowledge that helped (and helps) navigate some of this and while I still feel lost sometimes, I can’t help think about the poor people that have no idea what they are getting themselves into at times and have to go on blind faith.
I wish this was offered in my area. While I go and listen and take notes, my accounting background really doesn’t do a lot of good. Although I have become very attached to my Websters Medical Dictionary – it has helped me on so many occasions when I just don’t understand. This would be nice so I could dialogue and ask the questions as they come to mind instead of writing them down and trying to remember to ask them the next time we are with the Dr.
I think this a terrific idea. My Father was diagnosed with cancer and we just could not be there all the time.
I don’t have any medical background, but know enough to get me by. I wish something like this had come around long ago. I am sure this will help patients and thier families through the most troubling times.
Myself and my wife run Community Health and Alternative Opportunities Services Inc. (CHAOS Inc)
and are in the process of retiring, but looking for something interesting and helpful to do. We have done alot of advocacy over the past 30 years, and have been quite successful with many different types of populations.If we can be part of this in any way let me know.
I sure wish I had this great service when I was hospitalized two years ago to have a J-tube installed. The place (a teaching hospital in PA) was absolutely filthy, the nursing care was sporadic and only grudgingly given. The resident was obnoxious and gave me no information as to what they were doing to me or what to expect in the future. He said his speciality was going to be in orthopedics so he didn’t know anything about gastric problems. (My surgeon was on vacation and wouldn’t be back for a week.) I was in terrible pain and discomfort and could barely get my head off the pillow, but even so, he tried to discharge me the day after surgery even before I was put on the feeding tube. When I asked him what happened if I had a problem with the feeding tube and feeding solution he told me not to worry because he had “good vibes.” I told him I was not leaving for another two days (since my surgeon told me that was what was required with this surgery) – and I didn’t. Two days later when I wanted to get out of there I was informed that I was not allowed to leave the hospital until some representative gave me the discharge instructions and where to get my follow-up care and feeding supplies from. She never showed up and I had to do it all by phone myself. Finally, six hours later, some woman showed up to tell me she would start the process and I told her I had already done it. Finally I was released and was sent home – with the IV shunt still in my hand. The visiting nurse had to remove it for me. It was a nightmare of pain and confusion. I have since become very savvy on Medicare, secondary health care and bored, disinterested overrated doctors. I’m 67 years old and remember when a doctor was a physician because he wanted to help people. Its all changed now, but much of it for the worse. Too many “Zebras” are falling through the cracks. I feel sorry for people who do not have anyone to help them through this awful health care process. I think “Bedside Advocates” is the greatest thing since the invention of penicillin.