For the first time in history, the family and the patient will have an experienced medical professional in their employ. This will be someone who will spend as much time with the family as they need to explain, answer, investigate, discuss, communicate, collaborate and help the family make their wishes known to the medical community - no matter what time of day or night it is.

Frequently, tests and procedures (sometimes even surgical procedures) are ordered and performed for patients during odd hours of the night or weekend when it is inconvenient, or even impossible, for the family to be present.

A "Family Advocate," in the employ of the family, can be present in the hospital to help relay critical personal information about the patient and "family wishes" to the hospital staff any time of the day or night. A "Family Advocate" can be sent to "stand in" for the family to help receive information and reports that can then be made available to the family in an easy-to-understand way, during a more convenient time. Distance is no barrier; a "Family Advocate" can travel to anywhere in the world to represent the family, for the hospital, anywhere the patient is located.

The "Family Advocate" is willing to go anywhere in the world. However, the family will need to cover travel, living expenses, and the normal fees. Obviously this can be a very valuable resource to the family when they cannot be with the patient. The "Family Advocate" will stay with the patient as long as the family feels there is a benefit to the patient.

In some cases, this involvement by a "Family Advocate" can even help reduce overall healthcare costs by helping prevent unwanted tests and procedures.

A "Family Advocate's" impact on the family and healthcare can:

• Reduce stress and confusion for the family.
• Provide a clear intrpretation and complete picture of what's going on with the patient.
• Improve understanding of "How we got here?" and "What's going to happen next?"
• Help the family feel better informed and more in control of a complicated situation.
• Improve communication between the hospital and family.
• Help keep the family better informed to make better decisions.
• Increase advocacy for the patient with no family present.
• Help the family know when to ask, "Why?" "What For?" and "How Come?"
• Help make the family's and patient's desires known to the hospital

  And finally,

• Help increase the family's sense of contribution and control while decreasing complications and misunderstandings.

With everyone working together, a "Family Advocate" can be, and should become, an invaluable asset to the family and medical staff that no patient should be without.

[ return to top ]

Michael Kennedy RN, BSN, LNC
10999 Reed Hartman Hwy
Suite 304-H
Cincinnati, OH 45242
513.891.5088 (phone)
513.546.4118 (cell)
michael@thefamilyadvocate.com (email)