2023 Healthcare Advocate Summit Recap: Engaging Learning Opportunities, Wonderful Connections, and an Unexpected Honor
By Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA®, Founder, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC & Navigating Solo Network
FOR ADVOCATES, BY ADVOCATES! ™
The premier event for anyone involved in patient access, navigation, and reimbursement.
The Healthcare Advocate Summit recognizes that advocates working directly with patients/clients and healthcare staff can provide critical insights for improving the patient journey and outcomes.
In 2023, the organizers of the Healthcare Advocate Summit partnered with the Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations (CHCAO) to offer the Independent Patient and Health Care Advocate Education Track during the September 2023 Healthcare Advocate Summit held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana!
This event brought the independent advocate national community together in person for top-notch programming aimed at building skills and setting the tone for the future of Professional Patient and Health Care Advocacy. In addition, the Summit served as a prime opportunity to grow and spread awareness of independent advocacy and Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).
Educational Sessions:
Thirteen educational sessions were offered during the Independent Patient and Health Care Advocate Education Track. Topics included Advance Care Planning, Exploring Implicit Bias, Helping a Client Respond in A Crisis, Innovative Approaches to Healthcare Advocacy, and much more! Read about the full slate of offerings here!
On Wednesday, September 6th, I had the opportunity to present a session entitled “Meeting The Unique Needs of Aging Adults Navigating Solo” highlighting the planning needs of solo agers and offering suggestions on how patient/health care advocates, and allied professionals, can offer support and services for self-identified solo agers.
I am thrilled to share my voice is about 85% recovered from the August 2, 2023 sudden onset of idiopathic ulcerative laryngitis and held out during my presentation and the question and answer period.
Sessions on the Main Stage:
On Thursday morning, September 7th, the results of the Patient & Health Care Advocate Impact Study were unveiled during a main stage presentation.
In late 2022, the Coalition of Healthcare Advocacy Organizations (CHCAO) carried out a broad survey to understand the experiences of patient and health care advocates and assess their impact on the individuals they assist. The survey received responses from over 500 individuals, including 188 patients or family members, 262 advocates, and 91 other healthcare providers.
This publication presents the survey results and contextualizes the concept of patient and health care advocacy as a basis for refining the scope and practice of this professional domain.
I encourage you to review the White Paper entitled “The Critical Role of Patient And Health Care Advocates: A Special Report ” to learn more about the impact of working with an independent advocate!
Exhibit Hall and Independent Advocate Corner:
Midday Thursday, attendees had the opportunity to explore the Exhibit Hall which included the Independent Advocate Corner and the GNA Lounge, designed as a hangout for advocates! Take a look around below!
I had wonderful conversations with those that passed by while staffing the Massachusetts Health Care Advocates (MACHA) / National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC) table in the Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations (CHCAO) area! The Patient Advocate Certification Board was also stationed nearby! It was so wonderful to see so many advocates enjoying Independent Advocate Corner, courtesy of Greater National Advocates (GNA)!
Advocate of the Year:
During the Thursday late afternoon session, honorees for Advocate of the Year were recognized in the following categories: Healthcare Facility Advocate, Private Practice Advocate, Pharmacy Based Advocate, and Independent Patient and Health Care Advocate.
The Advocate of the Year is an awards initiative that recognizes the contributions being made across the field by rising stars and emerging leaders working as Healthcare Advocates.
I am thrilled to share that I was honored as 2023 Independent Patient and Health Care Advocate of the Year. I am so appreciative of this unexpected honor voted on by my peers!
There is no way to adequately summarize my amazing experience at the 2023 Healthcare Advocate Summit via images or narrative (although I have tried)!
Congratulations to Healthcare Advocate Summit organizers Melissa Paige and Elizabeth Johnson and the entire Healthcare Advocate Summit team, including my Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations (CHCAO) colleagues, for creating an energizing and engaging conference filled with fascinating sessions, great opportunities to connect with and learn from others, and ample ways to share our passion for healthcare/patient advocacy!
Connect With Us: When the complexity of your healthcare situation is too challenging to navigate on your own, working with an independent board certified patient advocate can help cut through the “red tape,” reduce complications, and offer peace of mind at an emotional time. Contact Ailene to learn more about the value of working with a private patient advocate.