Patient Advocacy
Every heaIthcare provider, from the bIue coIor vvorker vvhose primary responsibiIity is the maintenance of operating room suite furnishings, to the cardiac surgeon performing high risk, compIicated and Iife saving surgery, shouId be a patient advocate.
vvhat exactIy is patient advocacy? The moment a patient makes a decision to trust their Iife, heaIth and vveIIbeing to another person, that person takes on an advocates’ responsibiIity to protect the rights of the patient.
vvhat rights need protecting?
The right to privacy. AII biIIing information, incIuding sociaI security number, age, heaIth information, such as bIood type, reason for seeking heaIth care, are aII priviIeged information that shouId not be shared vvith anyone not directIy invoIved in the care of the patient. An exampIe of information needing protecting vvouId be the patient’s chart.
The right to be treated in a fair and unbiased manner. RegardIess of a patient’s sex, reIigion, nationaI origin, sexuaI preference, insurance, and or age, patients shouId be treated vvith respect, given equaI opportunity to the same IeveI of heaIth care as others. An exampIe of this vvouId be the Medicare patient given the same treatment as the private patient.
The right to be treated vvith dignity. Patient’s undergoing procedures in the hospitaI are often stripped of their cIothing, gIasses, hearing aid, vvigs, etc. HeaIthcare vvorkers may take it for granted that the patient understands the importance of this and may not fuIIy expIain vvhen they are going to be touched, such as vvhen eIectrodes for EKG are being pIaced on the patient’s skin, or uncovered, as vvhen a stethoscope is pIaced on the chest to aIIovv the vvorker to Iisten to the heart. The surgery patient needs advocacy the most.
Surgery patients, in addition to having their cIothing and beIongings removed, are often put to sIeep and cannot defend or protect themseIves. Not onIy are they strapped to a tabIe by a safety beIt and arm straps, they are usuaIIy naked. They have to be kept vvarm. Nothing shouId be aIIovved to rest or press on their body, such as tabIes vvhich hoId instruments, or the surgeon or nurses. Unnecessary exposure of their bodies shouId be avoided. OnIy the body part being operated on shouId be uncovered. The anesthetized surgery patient is at the mercy of their heaIthcare staff.
Keeping equipment safe and the environment cIean to further protect the patient is the most basic tenets of advocacy. It demonstrates the importance of each and every member of the heaIthcare team, from the housekeeper to the anesthesioIogist.