Patient Advocacy Patient Advocate The Patient Advocate’s Handbook Preface

Preface

I wrote The Patient Advocate’s Handbook to help you care for your loved one by organizing what I learned as an advocate into a handy reference, so you can quickly deal with common healthcare issues.

I wish I had this handbook during the 3 1⁄2 years I assisted my father in the care of my mother. With each new issue, we struggled to find solutions and hoped we had made the right decisions. This book pre-packages much of the basic, but overwhelming details commonly faced by advocates to provide you with concise explanations, options and suggestions.

This book is not a “disease book”; it is an advocacy book. A disease book examines the disease itself; it’s causes, progression, treatments and potential complications. It is not an examination of emotional/psychological caregiving issues and is not an encyclopedia of bedside care. This book will help you be a better advocate sooner in the process by describing common situations and giving you practical options no matter the cause of the medical condition.

I would also like to mention that I am not a medical professional and I have no interest, financial ownership or agreement with any healthcare entity. My motivation is to give you the benefit of my experience to help you become the best advocate you can be.

James Thomas Williams