What is a Patient Advocate?

Dr. Craig S Coleman
Feb 26, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Almost everyone has to deal with medical problems that take over their lives at some point. It can be hard to deal with the stress of figuring out treatment options, filling out paperwork, or attempting to understand a scary diagnosis, whether it's for your own health or someone else's. It's a lot to deal with, and it may mess up your whole schedule.

This is when a patient advocate can really help. If you're dealing with a serious diagnosis, trying to figure out your options, or just need someone to speak out for you, a patient advocacy professional can help you feel more knowledgeable, supported, and in charge of your care.

In this blog post, we'll talk about what a patient advocate performs, when you might want to hire one, and how Coleman Health Services can help you find the help you need.

What does a patient advocate do?

A patient advocate is a trained practitioner who assists people and families in dealing with the often complicated healthcare system. Their main purpose is to make sure you get the treatment you need, that you understand your options, and that you have someone on your side who puts your voice and values first.

Your health advocate doesn't take the place of your doctors or care team. They work alongside them to make sure you are treated with respect, dignity, and honesty. A patient advocate may be a huge help whether you're in the hospital, seeing specialists, or taking care of things from home.

A patient advocate's job is to help people understand complicated medical jargon and procedures so they can make smart choices.

Set up appointments with doctors, specialists, and labs
Look over and make sure you understand your insurance plans, claims, and medical costs
Help you learn about your treatment options and what each one means
Make sure your rights as a patient are respected and your wishes are heard
Help with decisions and emotional support when it's most needed

A patient advocate is like a personal guide through the healthcare system. They know how it works and make sure you don't get lost in it.

When You Might Need a Patient Advocate

1. You have too much medical information.

When you go to the doctor, they use new words, test results, or therapy suggestions that are hard to understand. You're not the only one who looks up symptoms on Google all the time or questions what you heard during checkups. A patient advocate can help you understand complicated medical information by breaking it down into simple terms and explaining what each diagnosis, test, or operation implies. This medical guidance gives you the knowledge, confidence, and ability to make the best decisions for your health.

2. You have a long-term or complicated health problem

If you have a long-term disease or a difficult diagnosis, you may need to see more than one doctor, keep track of numerous drugs, and work out several treatment regimens. There are so many moving elements that it's simple for appointments to overlap or for important information to be lost. A private patient advocate makes sure that all parts of your care are working together by being a primary point of communication and support. This kind of tailored patient advocacy is very helpful when you want to focus on getting better instead of paperwork and other things.

3. You're Getting Different Medical Opinions

When several doctors tell you different things, it might be hard to know what to do. You might not know which advice to believe or if you should acquire a second opinion. A health advocate can help you find and review all the information that is out there, suggest trustworthy specialists, and make your alternatives clearer. They can also go with you to appointments to help you ask the proper questions and make sure you understand all of your options before you make a choice.

4. You are a caregiver taking care of someone else

It might be hard to keep track of medical visits, medications, and communication with providers when you're helping a loved one, such as an aged parent, a spouse, or a child. Taking care of someone else can be stressful on an emotional, financial, and decision-making level. A patient navigator may take some of the stress off your shoulders by assisting you with scheduling, follow-up, medical paperwork, and even going to appointments when you can't. Their engagement makes sure that your loved one gets coordinated and empathetic care through a complicated healthcare system.

5. You have had medical mistakes or wrong diagnoses.

Mistakes happen in healthcare, and when they occur, they can have catastrophic effects. A patient advocate can assist you in looking into your situation and ask for a second opinion or corrective action if you've been given conflicting diagnoses, feel like your concerns have been neglected, or think a treatment mistake was made. They can also work with the medical team to make sure your records are clear, stop more mistakes from happening, and make sure your care is safe and based on correct information. During times like these, it can be a huge comfort to have someone you trust help you with patient advocacy.

What is the difference between a patient advocate and a patient navigator?

A patient navigator is usually someone who works in a hospital or other healthcare facility and helps patients go through the system by assisting them in making appointments, arranging testing, or understanding how to leave the hospital.

A private patient advocate, on the other hand, works for you and not the hospital or insurance company. They can help you at multiple facilities, with different providers, and even in separate states, giving you more tailored and complete advice.

To sum up, a patient navigator can aid you within one system, but a private patient advocate is your continuing partner in care, no matter where you go for care.

The Advantages of Hiring a Patient Advocacy Service

Using a professional patient advocate service is more than just convenient; it's also about better health results and peace of mind.

Some of the main benefits are:

Less stress and worry about making care decisions
Better communication between patients, doctors, and insurance companies
Fewer delays in getting treatment because of problems with the system
More accurate bills and fewer mistakes
Clear, individualized advice that gives people the power to make decisions

Having someone whose only job is to look out for your interests can be a huge comfort when healthcare feels rushed and impersonal.

How Coleman Health Services Can Help You

We know that healthcare can be scary at Coleman Health Services. That's why our patient advocacy team is here to help you every step of the way, so you never have to feel like you're doing this alone.

Our advocates have worked with patients of all ages and ailments, including those who are going through:

New or serious diagnoses
Treatment for mental health problems and addiction
Benefits from the VA and Medicare
Elder care for a long time
Help for people with disabilities and managing chronic disease

We give real care and respect, together with medical guidance. We are dedicated to making sure you or your loved one gets the best treatment possible, whether that means talking to your doctors, filling out paperwork, or just being there when you need help.

Are you ready to move on?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or unheard, now could be the moment to reach out for support. A patient advocate can make your experience with the healthcare system better.

Call Coleman Health Services today to set up a free meeting with one of our certified advocates. We can help you, speak for you, and care for you.