Being a Patient Representative Is More Work Than Being a Patient Advocate-Done Right, It Is Also Likely to Be More Effective.

Richard Wassersug

doi:10.3390/curroncol28020099

Abstract

For a patient to be effective as a “patient representative” within a health-related organization, work and more than just accepting an honorific title is required. I argue that for a patient to be most effective as a patient representative requires different types of background knowledge and commitment than being a “patient advocate”. Patients need to be cautious about how, when, and where they take on an official role of either an “advocate” or “representative”, if they truly want to be a positive influence on health outcomes.

Highlights

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
For a patient to be effective as a “patient representative” within a health-related organization, work and more than just accepting an honorific title is required
I argue that for a patient to be most effective as a patient representative requires different types of background knowledge and commitment than being a “patient advocate”

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Abstract: For a patient to be effective as a “patient representative” within a health-related organization, work and more than just accepting an honorific title is required. I argue that for a patient to be most effective as a patient representative requires different types of background knowledge and commitment than being a “patient advocate”.

Results

Conclusion