patient advocacy
Medical rights support
Patient advocacy is the practice of supporting, representing, or speaking on behalf of patients to help them navigate healthcare systems and receive appropriate care.
A patient advocate may help individuals understand diagnoses, communicate with medical staff, resolve billing disputes, or ensure their treatment preferences are respected.
The term applies both to informal advocacy by friends or family members and to professional roles within hospitals or independent organizations.
She pursued a career in patient advocacy after her father's difficult hospital experience.
Permission given with understanding
- privacyFreedom from observation
- accessibilityEase of approach
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
due process · legal recourse · grievance · disclosure · litigation · legislation · regulation · compliance
Belief in one's capabilities
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- informed choiceSelection based on understanding
- voiceSound from throat
participation · engagement · education · awareness · assertiveness · self-care · health literacy · care planning
Moral soundness and consistency
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- dignityInnate personal worth
- respectRegard with honor
justice · accountability · transparency · trustworthiness · fidelity · honesty · fairness · duty of care
Route-directing crew member
- ombudsmanPublic complaints investigator
- liaisonConnector between groups
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
- case managerProfessional coordinating client services
coordinator · counselor · facilitator · spokesperson · champion · defender · ally · guide
Sharing another's emotions
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- careAttentive regard for others
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
accompaniment · emotional support · listening · validation · presence · encouragement · comfort · guidance
informed consent
Permission given with understanding
- privacyFreedom from observation
- accessibilityEase of approach
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
confidentiality · due process · legal recourse · grievance · disclosure · litigation · legislation · regulation · compliance · civil rights
self-efficacy
Belief in one's capabilities
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- informed choiceSelection based on understanding
voice · participation · engagement · education · awareness · assertiveness · self-care · health literacy · care planning · treatment options
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- dignityInnate personal worth
respect · justice · accountability · transparency · trustworthiness · fidelity · honesty · fairness · duty of care · boundaries
navigator
Route-directing crew member
- ombudsmanPublic complaints investigator
- liaisonConnector between groups
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
case manager · coordinator · counselor · facilitator · spokesperson · champion · defender · ally · guide · educator
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- careAttentive regard for others
reassurance · accompaniment · emotional support · listening · validation · presence · encouragement · comfort · guidance · hand-holding
- health servicespediatric care, home care, pediatrics, nursing care, geriatrics
- social servicessocial workers, social work, social services, welfare office, case workers
- support servicestherapy, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, coaching
- Medical Ethicsmedical ethics, informed consent, beneficence, veracity, fidelity
- nursingnurse, nursing, nurses, RN, LPN
- oncologycancer, tumor, carcinoma, metastasis, malignancy
patient, patience, advocate, impatient, impatience, advocacy, advocates, advocated, advocating