What degree do you need to be a patient advocate?

• A degree in healthcare, nursing, or social work

• Knowledge of medical terminology

• Knowledge of health insurance and billing codes

• Knowledge of federal and state regulations that govern patient rights

• Leadership skills, including conflict resolution and mediation skills

To become a patient advocate, you should have the following soft skills:

• You must be a good listener

• You must be compassionate and understanding

• You must have strong communication skills.

• You should be an excellent writer and communicator in at least one language that is not your native language (or more)

You should have a talent for research and analysis, as well as for assessing the quality of information on the internet and elsewhere to make decisions about what resources are most useful for your work with patients.

Your clientele is generally people who are vulnerable to poor health outcomes due to their social circumstances or other factors such as:

• Disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation

• Age, ethnicity, or race

• Religion or lack thereof

• Geographic location

The duties of a patient advocate depend on what they are employed by or volunteering with. Some duties include:

• Tracking medical records

• Working with insurance companies to get authorization for care

• Assisting in filing appeals when necessary

Patient advocates serve as the voice of their patients. They are responsible for educating, informing, and advocating on behalf of their patients.

Some advocates may also be called patient representatives or patients' advocates. They are responsible for making sure that the patient is receiving the best treatment possible by providing information on different treatments, benefits, and options.