patient advocate?

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

This may not be quite appropriate to ask here but I am putting out feelers wherever - so don't snark me!

I have a serious family medical situation developing (elderly parent, etc. etc) and am trying to find out if there is a role player person such as "patient advocate" or doctor-patient liaison or patient therapist for medical issues. The gist being that the med stuff is hard to navigate/translate into simpler terms, and the various options are also hard to ferret out/decide between.

Does such a profession exist: someone who is medically informed and is capable of talking to both Drs + patients?

Comments

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

The Boston Globe did a pretty good article on patient advocates a while back, it should be available in their archives. Good luck dealing with your medical situation, I hope everything goes smoothly.

[klauspood.livejournal.com]

I had a similar situation and spoke with a social worker from Cambridge Somerville Elder Care. www.eldercare.org

They were very helpful, I suggest you contact them.

I have also heard that Cambridge Health Alliance has a program for older people which specializes in continuity of care.