We stand at a cultural crossroads, the intersection of the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. At this critical juncture, the choices we make matter, now and forever. Therefore, the members of Life is Worth Living, a lay apostolate, have chosen to promote the Culture of Life.
Our mission is to strive to affirm -- in thought, word, and deed -- the infinite preciousness of human life; to encourage service to others rather than radical self-interest; and to promote a climate of public opinion that recognizes the right of all human beings to life, respect, compassionate care, appropriate medical treatment, and equality under the law.
Patient Advocates Put Compassion Into Action
posted by Julie Grimstad
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Visiting the sick is a Christian work of mercy. Mercy is similar to compassion, which means “to suffer with” another, but it is more challenging than mere compassion. Mercy is putting our kindly inclinations—which we are often tempted to resist—into practice through readiness to assist.
A relative or volunteer advocate who accompanies a medically vulnerable person to doctor appointments or stays with the person when hospitalized contributes immeasurably to his or her well-being. The term “patient advocate,” as used here, means a person who strives to safeguard the welfare of a patient in the health care system. Particularly in need of patient advocates are persons whose lives are devalued—the mentally impaired, physically disabled, chronically ill, incurable, elderly and/or poor. In light of society’s growing willingness to abbreviate the lives of unwanted persons (both pre-born and born) patient advocates truly may be the last line of defense for some patients’ lives.
One essential role of the patient advocate is to facilitate communication between patient and physician. Before a visit with a doctor (in office or hospital), the advocate compiles a list of the patient’s symptoms, concerns and questions. During the visit, the advocate makes certain that all of these matters are satisfactorily addressed. The advocate also takes notes or tapes the conversation so the doctor’s advice can be reviewed later with the patient. This will help prevent misunderstandings and hopefully ensure compliance when the doctor prescribes medications or treatments.
Some hospitalized patients become disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings. They may feel acutely cut off from others and betrayed by their own bodies. A familiar face helps orient the patient and prevents loneliness, isolation, fear and despair. Rest is essential to recovery, but often difficult to get in a hospital. A patient may need someone he trusts by the bedside in order to feel secure enough to go to sleep. An advocate can minimize noise, light and other distractions by closing the door while with the patient. Particularly vulnerable patients need a caring person with them 24/7. Recruiting and scheduling family members, friends and volunteers to fill all the hours is another important role of the patient advocate.
Many hospitals are short-staffed and every hospital has times when the staff is extremely busy. (This also applies to nursing homes.) These problems can translate into less attentive care and even life-threatening situations. Busy medical personnel may overuse tranquilizers and physical restraints for patients who are restless or demanding. Feeding tubes are sometimes used for patients who are able to swallow simply because the staff does not have time to spoon-feed them. Call bells may be ignored when help is urgently needed. The advocate is able to soothe the restless patient, prevent him from pulling out tubes or falling out of bed, assist with meals, offer drinks of water, go for help in an emergency, etc. Whatever the advocate does to improve the patient’s welfare also positively influences others’ attitudes toward the patient. Some medical personnel perceive certain patients as being of “low value” and therefore give them less care or even think they would be “better off dead.” The advocate’s watchful presence is apt to induce such staff members to be more attentive to the patient’s needs.
Possibly the most important role the patient advocate plays is being a visible ally of the patient—a sign to the world that this patient is valued and that caring for and protecting this patient is a commendable moral act. A work of mercy, indeed.
If you would like to become a patient advocate or want more information on this subject, I recommend reading: A Guideline on Protecting the Health and Lives of Patients in Hospitals, Especially if the Patient is a Member of a Societally Devalued Class (106 pages), Second Edition (2005), by Wolf Wolfensberger. Available from Syracuse University Training Institute, 800 South Wilbur Avenue, Suite 3B1, Syracuse, New York 13204; telephone 1-315-473-2978.
A relative or volunteer advocate who accompanies a medically vulnerable person to doctor appointments or stays with the person when hospitalized contributes immeasurably to his or her well-being. The term “patient advocate,” as used here, means a person who strives to safeguard the welfare of a patient in the health care system. Particularly in need of patient advocates are persons whose lives are devalued—the mentally impaired, physically disabled, chronically ill, incurable, elderly and/or poor. In light of society’s growing willingness to abbreviate the lives of unwanted persons (both pre-born and born) patient advocates truly may be the last line of defense for some patients’ lives.
One essential role of the patient advocate is to facilitate communication between patient and physician. Before a visit with a doctor (in office or hospital), the advocate compiles a list of the patient’s symptoms, concerns and questions. During the visit, the advocate makes certain that all of these matters are satisfactorily addressed. The advocate also takes notes or tapes the conversation so the doctor’s advice can be reviewed later with the patient. This will help prevent misunderstandings and hopefully ensure compliance when the doctor prescribes medications or treatments.
Some hospitalized patients become disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings. They may feel acutely cut off from others and betrayed by their own bodies. A familiar face helps orient the patient and prevents loneliness, isolation, fear and despair. Rest is essential to recovery, but often difficult to get in a hospital. A patient may need someone he trusts by the bedside in order to feel secure enough to go to sleep. An advocate can minimize noise, light and other distractions by closing the door while with the patient. Particularly vulnerable patients need a caring person with them 24/7. Recruiting and scheduling family members, friends and volunteers to fill all the hours is another important role of the patient advocate.
Many hospitals are short-staffed and every hospital has times when the staff is extremely busy. (This also applies to nursing homes.) These problems can translate into less attentive care and even life-threatening situations. Busy medical personnel may overuse tranquilizers and physical restraints for patients who are restless or demanding. Feeding tubes are sometimes used for patients who are able to swallow simply because the staff does not have time to spoon-feed them. Call bells may be ignored when help is urgently needed. The advocate is able to soothe the restless patient, prevent him from pulling out tubes or falling out of bed, assist with meals, offer drinks of water, go for help in an emergency, etc. Whatever the advocate does to improve the patient’s welfare also positively influences others’ attitudes toward the patient. Some medical personnel perceive certain patients as being of “low value” and therefore give them less care or even think they would be “better off dead.” The advocate’s watchful presence is apt to induce such staff members to be more attentive to the patient’s needs.
Possibly the most important role the patient advocate plays is being a visible ally of the patient—a sign to the world that this patient is valued and that caring for and protecting this patient is a commendable moral act. A work of mercy, indeed.
If you would like to become a patient advocate or want more information on this subject, I recommend reading: A Guideline on Protecting the Health and Lives of Patients in Hospitals, Especially if the Patient is a Member of a Societally Devalued Class (106 pages), Second Edition (2005), by Wolf Wolfensberger. Available from Syracuse University Training Institute, 800 South Wilbur Avenue, Suite 3B1, Syracuse, New York 13204; telephone 1-315-473-2978.
Labels: Patient Advocacy