Our Patient Advocacy Services

The field of Patient Advocacy has emerged nation-wide over the course of the last five years, in response to the intricacies of the health care system in the United States. With the advent of Obamacare, reduction in Medicare funding, insurance regulations and HIPAA regulations, coupled with an aging population, physicians are forced to spend less time with patients. Primary care physicians, because of the limitations of the scope of their practice, must often rely on specialty physicians (i.e. a Cardiology referral), to assist in the treatment of their patients. Because of this fragmented care model, patients’ medical information and prescription history is often not shared between physician groups.This has led to an increase in medical errors (i.e. drug interactions) and a decrease in the patient’s overall satisfaction with their health care providers.

The role of a Patient Advocate is twofold. The first role is to act as the patient’s coordinator of care and the second role is to act as the patient’s champion by navigating the patient through the complex maze of the health care world – all while honoring the patient’s and family’s primary goals.

Concierge Medical Advocates, LLC partners with our clients and their families to meet the client’s comprehensive medical, emotional and personal needs with a team of registered nurses, social workers, experienced billing professionals, and pharmacists (Doctors of Pharmacy). We offer medical advocacy services to our clients, who range from the newborn to the golden years.

Read on to find out more about how our process works.

1. We get to know you

Our initial visit involves our client and their family members. During this visit we ascertain our clients’ patient care concerns, goals, needs and expectations and seek to find out how CMA can assist in facilitating these issues.

CMA creates and strategizes an action plan designed specifically for the individual client and their family based on the goals and wishes of the client and their family.

2. We plan for your goals

3. We meet with your physicians

We accompany clients to the doctor’s office, where we meet with the client and their physician(s). During this time, we assist in preparing all paperwork, billing matters, prescriptions, and making additional appointments. During our meeting with the physician, we inform the physician of any additional care that is occurring from other physicians and take notes from that day’s visit.

We create a personal documentation chart for the patient with current medical history, lab results and all medications. This chart will be available in both electronic and in a hard copy form. The patient’s personal documentation chart is updated each visit from CMA. The charting will feature updates from a variety of professionals based on the goals of our clients’ personalized health care plan. Updates from the patient’s nurse, social worker, billing specialist or pharmacist will be included in the charting. Depending on the patient’s wishes, family members will be able to view charting updates electronically from their own computer or smart devices.

4. We document your health

5. We make sure you're in the know

Part of the care we provide to our medical advocacy clients is the ongoing education of the client and their family concerning issues ranging from disease progression to identifying home safety issues, proper use of medications, to name but a few. We update family members as the client’s requests based on HIPAA regulations.

When needed, we will help the families we advocate for discuss difficult end of life decisions and advise them on their various options. Advance directives, funeral arrangements and DNRs can be discussed in advance. We will collaborate with the patient’s family attorneys, or provide the client with a list of qualified attorneys in the fields of Elder Care or Estate Planning.

6. We plan for the future

7. We handle billing and administration

Our billing staff can help with the preparation of paperwork for insurance, social security, Medicaid and Medicare. Our experienced billing staff can answer questions, review bills and advocate for the reduction when errors are found.

Our Social Workers can provide a multitude of services, ranging from assisting in filling out social security, disability forms, referrals to other social agencies to assisting with family meeting in order to resolve family issues.

8. We are your social advocates

9. We are there for you every step of the way

CMA has extensive experience in the support the new mother and newborn in the first months of life with new baby care and education.

Note: It is estimated that 80% of the total work provided by CMA, will be done by the company’s nursing staff. This may vary slightly depending on the needs of the individual client. Until the company reaches certain financial goals, the overwhelming majority of the nursing work, will be done by Susan Gibbons R.N. as the company’s Managing Director.

Let us advocate for you.

Take the first steps towards meeting your comprehensive medical, emotional and personal healthcare needs.

Contact Us