FROM THE PRESIDENT by LEWIS HARGETT , MD
Advocacy : Physicians Must be the Leaders in Advocacy for Our Patients and Our Profession
People become involved in advocacy for various reasons . There are different types of advocacy that can help people communicate for their rights and needs . In the area of health care , strong advocacy is essential . If you Google the term “ advocacy ,” it refers to promoting or supporting an interest for an individual , a cause , a policy or a group of people . There are causes and beliefs that we support and advocating for those different causes can be very complex to pursue . For purposes of this article , I will discuss three types of advocacy that support health care and the medical profession .
The National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies listed three ( 3 ) types of advocacy pertaining to health care . They are the following :
1 . Self-advocacy : speaking for yourself and knowing what is important to you .
2 . Individual advocacy : when a person or group of people / an organization focuses on the interests of one or a few individuals .
Individual advocacy can be either informal or formal .
3 . Systems advocacy : focuses on change at the local , state and national levels to impact change within public policy .
In essence , the health care system encourages patients ’ self-advocacy , medical professionals to provide individual advocacy while the medical professional organizations promote systems advocacy .
The health care industry is becoming increasingly complex and difficult to navigate . When a patient enters the health care system , they become self-advocates for their well-being . Some patients are able to speak for themselves and make informed decisions about their treatment and management options .
Some patients are unable to advocate for their health and well-being . They need individual advocates to provide support and education to assist them in making informed decisions for equitable and fair treatment . This advocate can be a family member , friend , caregiver , group or health care provider . For example , in rehabilitation medicine , once the patient enters the health care system , they are assigned a case worker . The case worker is responsible for helping to guide the patient and their families through the health care system by assisting with communication , finances , social concerns and providing education that enables informed decision making . The health care team also includes nurses , pharmacists , therapists , psychologists , etc . Most are employed by the hospital system , but they are obligated to advocate for the patients ’ best health outcomes . However , it is important that the physician continue to take the leadership role for patient advocacy . Physicians are the leaders in the health care system due to their medical education , extensive training and experience to diagnosis / treat illnesses and diseases ; we provide treatment plans and manage the patient ’ s overall health .
As discussed in my previous articles , the desired result is for the patient to become “ whole ” throughout their health care journey . Patients must have their immediate illness or infirmities addressed including access to high-quality health care services and reducing disparities to health care . A patient is more likely to achieve and maintain a state of good health with a team approach that advocates wellness for a healthy lifestyle .
Through the years , I had always been a member of the Greater Louisville Medical Society ( GLMS ) due to the support and advocacy for physicians and health care . However , as a resident I never imagined serving in the role of GLMS President advocating for the medical profession and quality health care for all . Today , due to my medical education , knowledge , experience and involvement in advocacy , I have become a strong health care advocate for my patients as well as the medical profession .
There are constant challenges that affect how health care is managed in the U . S . The number of midlevel providers ( nurse practitioners , physician assistants , nurse anesthetists , chiropractors , etc .) continue to expand their scope of practice and compete with physicians for patients . Physician fees and reimbursement by
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