Navigating congenital disorders, such as Down Syndrome, is a challenging journey. While much is known about Down Syndrome, there is still much to be understood. As with all medical conditions, despite having a “textbook” definition of symptoms and best management, each person is unique and requires their own individualized approach.

What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome, also called Trisomy 21, is a genetic condition that occurs when there is an additional (all or part) chromosome 21 present. This is diagnosed during gestation or at the time of birth.  As a result, an individual with Down syndrome shares common physical traits, including a flat facial profile, slanted eyes, a short neck, and a protruding tongue. They may also have low muscle tone and shorter stature.

Additional Health Conditions

An individual with Down Syndrome is at a higher risk for developing additional health conditions, including congenital heart defects, gastrointestinal issues, hearing problems, thyroid conditions, and more. Sometimes the conditions are not initially recognized at birth, and sometimes they do not develop until later in life. 

Navigating Down Syndrome

A loved one with Down syndrome needs a lot of special attention to help optimize their health and overall quality of life. As a parent with a child with Down syndrome or a caregiver, it may feel like an overwhelming job to navigate this journey. While it is a challenge, it is important to know that help is available. Many resources are available, including Down syndrome specialty medical centers. These centers are few in come and may not be available near your demographic location; however, telemedicine and advanced technology offer advanced options. 

How a Private Patient Advocate fits into your navigating Down Syndrome Journey

An experienced private patient advocate can help alleviate your burden and optimize your loved one’s quality of life. A private patient advocate can assist in managing insurance and coverage issues, arranging additional caregiving, and researching additional treatment options. A private patient advocate can arrange appointments, transportation, special nutrition, and therapy arrangements. Another essential benefit is that an experienced private patient advocate can review medical records, prepare and attend medical appointments, and communicate with the care team. In addition, we will support and educate you on how you can advocate for yourself. 

Reach out to Pathway Patient Advocates and let us walk with you on your journey. You never have to feel alone as you navigate this path.

Bio: Dr. Elena Borrelli, DMSC, MS, PAC, BCPA, is the founder of Pathway Patient Advocates. She has over 20 years of experience in the medical field in both clinical, administrative, and academic settings. Apart from her experience in professional practices, Dr. Borrelli has encountered frustration and discrepancies while personally navigating the health care system. Her passion is to help patients better understand the complex and often confusing medical system. Dr. Borrelli has experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Her main focus is to assist clients who are dealing with chronic conditions, rare disorders, cancer, or undiagnosed symptoms. It is her compassion, experience, and determination that set Pathway Patient Advocates apart from the rest. To reach Dr. Borrelli, you can visit her website at pathwaypa.com.

The holiday season is a time filled with holiday traditions, get togethers, community events, and more. Often, a large part of the festivities involves food. Christmas cookies, candy, pies, and many even a secret family recipe. It’s a tricky time to start a diet for just about anyone. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, so it is only fitting to discuss this topic. However,  it can be an especially challenging time of year for someone who is diabetic. 

Plan Ahead

While time-consuming, planning ahead can go a long way and help keep you on track. Think of some foods that you can bring with you to holiday gatherings that won’t cause drastic fluctuations in your sugar. A nutritionist can help with food options and meal planning. A private patient advocate can help arrange the support you need to have in place.

Have an Emergency Plan

Have an emergency plan in case you do have a large spike or drop in your blood sugar. It is important to review what symptoms to look out for that may indicate a significant change in your blood sugar. An emergency plan includes things such as who you are going to notify in an emergency, that you are going to the hospital. Perhaps rescue medications are available at your home. Also, what steps will you take in an emergency, perhaps what you will pack? 

Give yourself Grace

If the unexpected does occur, remember to give grace to yourself. Review what happened and how to prevent it from happening next time. Work with a private patient advocate who can help identify what changes should be implemented moving forward, and help implement those steps for or with you. It is possible to enjoy the holiday season while managing your diabetes. Taking some extra steps to control your diabetes can leave you feeling healthier, with more energy, and being able to enjoy more time participating in the holiday festivities. Balance, moderation, and ongoing reviewing and implementation are key.

Contact Pathway Patient Advocates today, we are ready to help with your health for the holidays. 

Health For The Holidays

Enjoying the season when your loved one is in the hospital

The holiday season is truly my favorite time of year. The friend and family get-togethers, the music and decorating, and events throughout the community. I remember working in the hospital every year at Christmas time, the hospital environment felt extra welcoming.

However, if your loved one is in the hospital, it’s a very different experience. I remember my brother recently being in the hospital due to his cancer. He was admitted just after Thanksgiving, and with everything going on, celebrating the holidays was the last thing I wanted to do. 

When a loved one is in the hospital 
Whether it’s your parent, child, spouse, grandparent, friend, or anyone else, having a loved one in the hospital is tough. As a loved one, there are often feelings of helplessness, disconnectedness, being overwhelmed, as well as depression. You want to be there and help your loved one as much as possible, but obstacles continue to present in your path. During the holiday season, these burdens often feel heavier. You are likely not celebrating the holidays the same way you did in the past while your loved one is in the hospital. Your loved one may not be feeling up to spending time with you as before.

There are a lot of unknowns and the daily life events continue to circle around like a whirlwind, often leaving people feeling unseen and overwhelmed.

Making the Best of it
The best thing that you can do for your loved one is to try to make the best of it. Even little things can have a huge impact on supporting your loved one in their health journey. Try to find time to spend with your loved one. Even if they are not up to or able to socialize, consider visiting them and reading a magazine or book by their side while they rest. Work on a craft for them, or write them a note. If they don’t mind the noise, watch a movie next to them, even if they fall asleep. This is the help your loved you will appreciate. Knowing their friends and families are supporting them. Consider hiring a private patient advocate for your loved one. This will allow you the time to spend with your loved one and not be wrapped up in all the hectic and tedious work of navigating their health journey. Let a private patient advocate take that burden away from you and your loved one, so that you can enjoy the available time together. If you are unfamiliar with how a private patient advocate can help, learn more here.  

Think of things you can modify to still celebrate the holidays with your loved one. Often, hospitals will allow special foods to be brought in and accommodate family and friends putting up decorations in rooms etc. Depending on the status of your loved one’s health, you may also be able to leave the hospital with your loved one for a few hours, or at the very least, go outside or down to a recreational area or cafe. A new scenery is a great way to perk up someone’s mood. 

Find time to Care for yourself
As a mom, I often get so wrapped up in caring for my children that I forget to take care of myself. As much as we hear that self-care is important, it’s easy to push it on the back burner. To help and support others, it is important to stay healthy yourself. That means physical and mental health. 

Think of small things that you can do to help relax each day, stay active, and eat healthy. This will help support your mood and overall outlook on things. You will be best prepared to handle anything that comes your way. A private patient advocate can decrease your to-do list and offer you more time to practice self-care.  

Contact Pathway Patient Advocates, we would love to help you with your health for the holidays. 

September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis has gained increasing awareness over the past 25 years. Despite this, there is still much to improve in how to best prevent and manage sepsis. Knowledge is key and can help prevent death from this suddenly presenting and rapidly progressing condition. 

What is Sepsis

Sepsis is defined as a rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition that occurs when the body overreacts to an infection. This can quickly lead to widespread organ damage and even death.  There are different terms associated with sepsis. 

• Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): SIRS is an exaggerated defense response that your body experiences secondary to a stressor. This leads to inflammation throughout your body.  There are various types of stressors that can trigger SIRS, including infection, surgery, and cancer.
• Sepsis: When the source of the inflammation is an infection, the proper term is Sepsis.
  You may think that “infection” is quite general. So, what type of infection are we referring to?  Well, Sepsis can be caused by any one of a variety of infections.
  • Common causes of infection are
    • Urinary tract infections (UTI), such as bladder infections
    • Pneumonia
    • Wounds (from skin breakdowns or surgical wound infections)
• Severe Sepsis: Severe sepsis occurs when signs of organ damage are present in conjunction with sepsis. Any organ can be affected, and many times, more than one organ system is affected. Some possible organs include the kidneys, heart, brain, lungs, and liver.
• Septic Shock: This is the most severe form of sepsis, where the body develops an extreme reaction to an infection.  Septic shock can cause dangerously low blood pressure, and immediate medical care is needed.

How Serious Is Serious?

Sepsis can develop very quickly and can become life-threatening. Immediately, medical care and evaluation are necessary. The critical window for starting treatment for severe sepsis is within 3 hours; the sooner the better. 

According to a 2024 article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, septic shock still carries a greater than 40% mortality rate. 

Know the Signs

Knowledge is power and can save lives. It is important to become familiar with the signs of sepsis and what to look out for. A widely used acronym to help remember the symptoms of sepsis is TIME:

TIME

Temperature- This includes a temperature that is EITHER higher (like a fever) or lower than normal. Often, the lower-than-normal body temperature is forgotten about as a symptom.

Infection- Even a suspected source of an infection counts. You do not have to have a confirmed infection. For example, if someone has burning with urination, but no confirmed bladder infection yet, this would still count as meeting infection criteria for concern.

Mental Decline- This includes acting out of the ordinary. Especially in the elderly, confusion is often the first sign of an infection. Symptoms of mental decline include confusion, sleepiness, and difficulty waking.

Extremely ill-This includes symptoms such as severe pain, discomfort, or shortness of breath. 

A combination of the symptoms above warrants concern for sepsis. 

Working Together

Working together helps save lives. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of sepsis, contact immediate medical help and say let a medical professional know that you are: Concerned about sepsis.

Timely intervention is key. Starting treatments, including antibiotics and IV fluids immediately, has been shown to drastically reduce the progression to septic shock and decrease mortality. 

Despite sepsis being a medical emergency, there is still much room for education in both the clinical field and the community. Do not be afraid to share knowledge and speak up. Many resources are available to remind of sepsis criteria that can be placed on refrigerators or pockets.  If your loved one has a companion caregiver or home aid, check with them to see if they are familiar with what signs to be aware of that may indicate sepsis. 

Be prepared and work together with your team. A private patient advocate can assist with implementing measures to help prevent sepsis and improve communication.

Managing and optimizing your health can be challenging with any condition, and ADHD is no different. Living with ADHD brings its own hurdles in many areas of life, including emotional, social, academic, and professional. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate ADHD alone. A private patient advocate can help you understand and better manage your condition. 

How common is ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, abbreviated ADHD, is a widely known diagnosis. In the United States alone, about 6.5 million children are currently diagnosed with ADHD. What is less commonly known is that many adults also suffer from ADHD. In 2024, approximately 15.5 million adults were diagnosed with ADHD in the United States.

Understanding ADHD

There are different types of ADHD. Three main types include: (1) predominantly inattentive presentation, which involves trouble with focusing and forgetfulness. (2) predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation, which involves hyperactivity and impulsivity, but fewer issues with attention, (3) combined presentation, a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive presentation.

Common symptoms of ADHD. You may have some or all of these.

•Difficulty focusing: This involves trouble starting or finishing tasks. Often easily being distracted by sound, your thoughts, or your surroundings. In addition, frequently losing things or forgetting details. 

•Issues with managing time: Some examples are consistently arriving late to things, procrastinating, and doing things last minute. 

•Being impulsive: Impulsivity is often displayed as speaking or acting without thinking. Interrupting conversations and making hasty decisions

•Emotional issues: Mood swings, difficulty calming down, or being easily frustrated are examples of this.

• Low self-esteem: Sometimes, ADHD comes with the feeling of not being good enough. Often this includes overly worrying and internalizing criticism.

•Difficulty with relationships: ADHD often struggles with communication and conflict resolution.

•Struggles with academics and in the workplace: Difficulties with staying on task and being disorganized are some examples of this.  

Obtaining an adequate diagnosis

There are many resources available as a child to assist in identifying and diagnosing ADHD as a child. Teachers and healthcare professionals often look for signs that children may need a referral for an ADHD evaluation. But what about as an adult?  What happens if you were not diagnosed as a child, and now an adult, you feel you may have ADHD?

Dealing with ADHD (especially undiagnosed ADHD) as an adult can be extremely challenging. It may interfere with your ability to adequately work, build, and maintain relationships. While resources are not as known, they are available. 

There are several steps involved in diagnosing ADHD, including finding a qualified professional who is experienced with diagnosing ADHD. This can include your primary care provider, licensed therapist, or psychiatrist. Many of these professionals may have more experience in dealing with children with ADHD. Therefore, it is important to find one that has experience in managing adults with ADHD. The diagnosis involves undergoing a detailed clinical evaluation. Neuropsychological testing is also sometimes used.

Optimizing your management

Once a diagnosis is made, now you have to figure out how to best manage it and make changes in your lifestyle to improve your quality of life.  This entails various potential options including medications. Medications involve a class of medications called stimulants. Stimulant medications ***. Non-stimulant medications are also sometimes used. Cognitive behavioral therapy is coaching or skills training is another option to help assist with time management and organization. ADHD management also involves lifestyle adjustments with sleep, exercise, and mindfulness.

Work with a Private Patient Advocate

A private patient advocate can help you put the pieces together and walk with you to navigate your condition from start to finish and ongoing. Whether you have a diagnosis and your ADHD is not managed the way you want it, or if you are unsure if the diagnosis of ADHD is what you have. We can help you explore whether you have ADHD or another condition. Your situation, condition, and life are unique and so are we. We will personalize our approach specifically to what you need. Whether you or your child needs help with ADHD, we are here to advocate for you. Call Pathway Patient Advocates today (947) 517-8395.

Given a diagnosis that just doesn’t seem right for you? Maybe your symptoms don’t add up to what your doctor told you? Or…maybe you were diagnosed with a rare disease and not offered much treatment or support.  If this sounds all too familiar, then continue reading…

Sadly, this happens far too often.  Why? Well, there are many reasons why this may occur:

1. Medicine is an art, and doctors and other healthcare providers use examination and tests to lead to a diagnosis that best fits the puzzle. Sometimes the answer is not exactly black and white. Every human is unique, and many times so are their symptoms. Patients do not always fit the diagnostic algorithm.  

2. The demands of today’s fast-paced healthcare system leave little time for healthcare providers to spend hours investigating each patient’s unique case to figure out the best outcome.  Unfortunately, office visits are often crunched into 15 minutes or fewer timeframes, patients are squeezed in last-minute, perhaps double-booked, and don’t forget short-staffed facilities. The struggle is real! Even when healthcare providers want to dedicate the extra time to dig deep into your specific case, the healthcare system logistics make it nearly impossible.  While some hospitals do have scheduled meetings where challenging cases are discussed among specialists, this does not happen in all hospitals, and is especially rare in primary care offices. While patients may be referred when necessary to the appropriate specialists in the area of need, this does not always happen.

3. The complexity of medicine is another reason that misdiagnosis occurs or rare disorders are inadequately managed. There are constant ongoing advances in technology and research, and new diagnoses are being discovered.  It is essentially impossible for every healthcare provider to keep up with each and every advancement. 

How It Affects You, The Patient
Despite the many reasons why people get misdiagnosed or undermanaged, the end results are essentially the same.  The patient is often left with feelings of defeat, exasperation, exhaustion, abandonment, anhedonia, and depression.  Any one of these alone is a horrible feeling. So what do you do?? This is where a private patient advocate can help.

What is a Private Patient Advocate

A private patient advocate is an experienced healthcare professional who provides unbiased assistance to help navigate your path to better health and achieve your personal goals. A private patient advocate does not work for an insurance company or hospital; therefore, their priority is you.     

How can a Private Patient Advocate help in a situation of misdiagnosis or rare diagnosis?

A private patient advocate can help in several ways.  To highlight just a few:

Finding the right care
At Pathway Patient Advocates, you have access to not 1 but 2 patient advocates; therefore, your advocates are experienced not only in the medical aspect of healthcare but also in the administrative side, including insurance and billing.  The experienced patient advocates can help you locate providers and resources that can help address your specific situation best, as well as in the most cost-efficient way for you.

Experience
It is important to find a private patient advocate who has experience in advocating for patients who have been misdiagnosed or have a rare disorder.  Advocates with this experience may have already had clients similar to you and have increased knowledge of the situation.  

Saving time and money
With an atypical diagnosis, time is of the essence. Often, the sooner you can find a proper diagnosis and good management plan, the better chance you will have in managing symptoms, treatment, and quality of life.  A private patient advocate can efficiently help you find the resources that you need, as they have the process and tools required to do so. This, in the end, will save you both money and, more importantly, time.  

Personal Support
With a private patient advocate, you are not going through this challenge alone.  A private patient advocate is here for you to walk side-by-side and assist you through your path. Even if you are fortunate enough to have family or friends by your side, it is comforting to know that you have your very own private patient advocate with you looking out for your best interests. Your private patient advocate can take some worry away from you, so that you can spend quality time with the people and things you enjoy doing. The healthcare system is challenging, but you don’t have to go through it alone.  

World Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Day is February 20th of each year.  This type of cancer is especially dear to my heart, as my brother, and best friend, just recently lost his battle after a 7-year-strong fight

Cholangio… what?

Many people have never heard of this long strange word. Cholangiocarcinoma is a long word that hopefully many of you have never heard. This strange word, “Cholangiocarcinoma,” (also known as bile duct cancer), is cancer that affects the bile duct (so the ducts of your gallbladder). Your gallbladder is connected to your liver, so cholangiocarcinoma is often classified as a type of liver cancer.  Despite being a healthcare provider and working in the hospital for over 20 years at that point, my brother was the first person I experienced going through cholangiocarcinoma. It is such a rare cancer that many doctors and other healthcare professionals are still not familiar with it.

More about Cholangiocarcinoma

This rare cancer is very aggressive, and despite its “rareness”, it is now the second most common liver cancer worldwide. The incidence and mortality of cholangiocarcinoma has increased. Due to the vast possible symptoms and aggressive behavior, many are in advanced stages at diagnosis and the average 5-year survival rate at this point is 2-3%. 

Since my first encounter with cholangiocarcinoma when my brother was diagnosed, I have advocated for many clients with different types of liver cancer. However, my brother’s experience allowed me to view this challenging experience from a family member’s perspective. It truly made me a better advocate, one who could empathize and better understand what my clients were going through. It’s quite an awful experience trying to navigate cancer, and when you have a rare one, even more awful. It is hard to imagine going through it alone without Pathway Patient advocates. 

The Challenging Journey

While it breaks my heart to share that my brother passed January 2025;  thankfully, with prayers and persistence, he got to enjoy 7 more years of living his life to his fullest and enjoying his family and friends.

Looking back at the journey, there were so many adjustments and modifications that we had to make along the way with the care team, treatment, etc.  So many doctors were ready to just give up, “It was the easy way”. There had been so many times we have been told, “There is nothing more that can be done.” Even as early as his initial diagnosis when nothing at all had yet been done. There were so many medical errors and improper information that were experienced. It’s no secret that the healthcare system is flawed, but to actually experience it is always a shock. His diagnosis was delayed by over 1 month and by 2 different large health care systems, despite clear symptoms and diagnostic findings, and our persistent questioning. Then due to a miscommunication, we were told surgery was not an option, even though the surgeon had already reviewed the records and agreed that he would be a candidate for surgery. Just a few weeks ago, his imaging was misread.  The healthcare system involves so many people and so many moving pieces in such a fast-paced environment, that medical errors and miscommunication are bound to occur. What’s important is that we find them, so that they can be addressed before it’s too late. And that’s a key benefit of having Pathway Patient advocates.

Working Together

Cholangiocarcinoma is still not fully understood and there is still so much to learn about this aggressive cancer.  

One thing that is not common knowledge is that, unlike most cancers, this type of cancer can be caused by a parasite known as a “fluke”. This parasite lives in the waters near Asia; near China and Thailand. Consuming seafood that is raw or undercooked can contain this fluke worm, and can cause the worm to grow to adult size in a human bile duct, causing scarring and leading to cholangiocarcinoma. So beware of the seafood you consume. 

Trying to navigate a rare cancer is challenging.  The healthcare system involves so many people and so many moving pieces in such a fast-paced environment, that medical errors and miscommunication are bound to occur. 

One question I am commonly asked is, “Do people get offended by having a private patient advocate?” I think that is such a great question… If you have the right care team, they should not be offended at all, but quite the opposite, much appreciated.

Our goal at Pathway Patient Advocates is not to blame anyone or cause strained relationships with any member of the healthcare team. It is so helpful to stay on top of things in this fast-paced environment, especially with a time-sensitive situation such as an aggressive cancer, It’s to add another layer of assistance to smooth the process and work together with the team. 

Another key benefit is thinking outside the box, and going over all options to consider. There are so many things to consider and it can be overwhelming. Also, with so many people involved, it’s difficult for clients to know who is who and keep track of what’s going on and when. Especially, when you are feeling sick and on medications, and experiencing side effects. With all these considerations, it’s so important to always go back and consider quality of life. Having the time to spend with loved ones without having to deal with the logistics of it all is invaluable. 

Patients want to know that their family and loved ones are not stressed due to their condition, and there is often a sense of “burden on the family”. It is great to offer assistance with this aspect. At Pathway Patient Advocates, we not only support the patient but also their loved ones. For the family and loved ones, it gives them a piece of mind knowing they are not going through this alone and provides the opportunity for them to spend quality time instead of feeling flustered and overwhelmed. 

This journey is challenging, and unfortunately, I cannot change that. But my goal is to help improve it to the best of my ability to make it a bit more manageable for all, supporting the best possible outcome. This makes the job all worth it.  If you know someone diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, regardless of what stage they are at, I encourage you to reach out. We will treat them as if it is our family members,  and advocate to the best of our ability.  I am available to help you through your journey, wherever stage you are in it.

Dr. Elena Borrelli

Pathway Patient Advocates

By now you have heard of the concept of patient advocacy, but how do you choose the right one? Perhaps you are struggling with a challenging medical condition and you are looking to get things better managed as soon as possible. So how do you choose the right patient advocate? Let’s discuss some ways to help increase your confidence that you are entrusting the right person to guide you through your journey to better health and quality of life.

Choose Pathway Patient Advocates

A common question is; why should I choose a private patient advocate over one that is provided by a healthcare system or insurance company? There is a main key difference between a patient advocate that works for a large system and a private patient advocate. Patient advocates from large healthcare companies practice more like customer service representatives. They may refer you to the billing department, or other areas in the hospital depending on your needs. Their services may be useful in certain situations, however, those patient advocates typically do not have extensive medical or billing backgrounds. Another important factor to remember is that they are employed by that healthcare organization or insurance company, therefore your (patient/or family members’) interest is not always their first priority.  At Pathway Patient Advocates we offer an unbiased individual, who focuses on YOU! We help navigate your path to the best possible care for you.

Choose a Board-Certified Patient Advocate

When you are selecting a doctor, you want a professional who is board-certified and acknowledges competence in the area of practice. Similarly, it is essential to choose a certified patient advocate.

A Board Certified Patient Advocate is a patient advocate who has achieved and maintains certification by the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB).  A Certified Patient Advocate upholds the PACB’s Ethical Standards, Competencies, and Best Practices.  Certification also requires successfully passing the  PACB examination, which evaluates broad areas of competencies within the profession.

Choose an Experienced Patient Advocate

A crucial advantage of private patient advocacy is the personalized care and 1 on 1 trusting relationship that you develop with your private patient advocate  As patient advocacy is increasing in popularity, more patient advocacy companies are popping up. Unfortunately, this may make it more challenging for you to select the right one. Beware of large companies trying to monetize by helping you find the right patient advocate. Many large companies or associations offer competitive pricing to connect you with an advocate. However, several of these patient advocates are just starting out and inexperienced in managing your specific condition. It is essential to find an experienced private patient advocate that you can deal with directly instead of having to go through a large association or corporation.  

It’s okay to Switch Patient Advocates

What happens if you started with a patient advocate, but you are not seeing much improvement in your situation? IT is OKAY to switch. We have several clients that come to us after having an unpleasant experience with a patient advocate. Not all patient advocates are the same, find the one that fits best for you.

Be Confident in Your Choice

Take the time to research and ask questions so that you can feel confident going into your relationship with your private patient advocate. At Pathway Patient Advocates, I am a physician associate and an experienced board-certified private patient advocate ready to listen and discuss your needs. My support staff and I are ready to help advocate for you to the best of our ability. If I feel that I am not the best fit to advocate for you, I will be honest with you about that. 

I look forward to hearing your story and advocating for you. 

Elena Borrelli DMSC, M.S. PAC, BCPA

Caring for a loved one can be a full-time job. This may be a parent, child, sibling, partner or friend.  It can be both emotionally and physically draining.  Especially during the holidays, when everyone tends to have more on their plate, caring for a loved one can become increasingly overwhelming. You may be struggling trying to celebrate the holidays as best as possible with your loved ones, yet accommodations and change of plans may be necessary to accommodate medical issues. The question becomes: how can you best enjoy the holidays with your loved one when he or she is sick?

Spend quality time with your loved one

Work with a private patient advocate. A patient advocate can help lessen the load, especially during this time. For example, organizing medical records, communicating with the healthcare team, and adequately preparing for upcoming appointments. This will provide the opportunity for you to spend quality time with your loved one. 

Streamline medical care

An experienced private patient advocate can help your loved one attain the proper care they need, most efficiently. For example, your private patient advocate can review medical records to determine gaps in care and areas that have not yet been explored. She can communicate with specialized providers and coordinate timely appointments to further help diagnose and manage your loved one’s medical condition. The goal is to help provide your loved one with the best quality care for their condition as quickly as possible. 

Avoid medical errors 

A private patient advocate can both help identify medical errors and monitor the process to help prevent errors from occurring from the start. This is essential, especially around the holidays where factors such as short staff, increased patient load, and burnout can all contribute to increased medical errors. 

Make time to Take care of yourself 

When your loved one is sick, it is so easy to focus on helping them that you overlook caring for yourself. Lack of sleep, stress, and lack of healthy food are all factors that can contribute to decreasing your immune system and increasing the chances of you becoming ill. Nonetheless, your energy level decreases and you feel drained. This not only can impact your physical energy, but also your emotional energy. A private patient advocate can offer you the time you need to stay strong so that you can best support your loved one. 

Let a patient advocate help you care for your loved ones. The holiday time is a great time to start. Take time to spend memories and offer emotional comfort to the people you care most about. This is a great medicine that only you can offer. Turn this often hectic time of year into one filled with relaxation and good memories.