Patient Advocacy Concept Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Patient Advocacy Concept - Research Paper Example Advocates act as informers to the decision making process of the patient, support their patients and allow the patient to make her independent decisions. A nurse advocacy can include acting for a patient, defending, speaking and supporting the patient. In addition, an advocate can be a linkage that reduces the communication breach between the patient, the system of health care and other professionals. Various people think they understand the concept of patient advocacy (De, 2006), but they, sometimes do not recognize the origin of the concept. Patient advocacy concerns any task that directly favors the sick. Patient advocacy can apply to care provision for an individual victim, to teams that make policies and directions that assist the patients, to groups of government that make Legislations enhance patient processes and systems. The patient advocacy concept refers to various efforts to help sick people and their interests in the health care system context, (Kohnke, 1987). The discus sion aims at expounding the patient advocacy concept as defined by various prominent experts in practice of advocacy. This will provide a better understanding of the concept as used in nursing. Additionally, analysis of the concept will offer an intensive understanding of personal and specialized functions related to patient advocacy and its main goals, methodologies, benefits and limitations, (Galow, 1980). Similarly, the analysis will clarify, highlight, define and summarize the perception of patient advocacy in the nursing context. The discussion will explore various definitions of the concept from existing literature and case studies, and break them down into critical features. Aims and purpose of patient advocacy Patient advocacy has always been the focus in the nursing community, but with the intensifying health care dynamics, the need is more intensified. Patient advocacy roles range from helping patients and their families with shifts from clinics to home care, to influencin g government departments for issues of health care. Patient advocacy as a concept entails analyzing, reacting, counseling and whistle blowing to help and enhance health care quality for patients, (Bu & Jezewsky, 2006). Doctors promote transit and strive to safeguard the security, health, liberty and rights of their patients. Patient advocacy denotes that role of policymakers, legitimate professionals and advocates who work to enhance health care for patients marginalized and oppressed by social and cultural stigmatizing diseases like HIV. Similarly, given the multiple contexts in which patient advocacy concept is applied, studies can aid advocates better explore the concept, a task vital for enhancing both applied and professional efforts to enhance the quality of health care, (Berns & Newberry 2000). Patient advocacy ensures that issues and concerns of patients and their families are communicated and addressed appropriately and at the right time. Patients are intensively sensitive to diseases, (McDonald, 2007). Clinicians, in most cases, decide the best practices for the patients regardless of the patient interests and wishes but sometimes out of necessity, (Curtin & Thomas, 2006). Similarly, when the patient or caregiver is afraid to provide information, the doctor must speak for the family. Sometimes it implies death or life. Sometimes, it can offer help for the family, and their patient