It’s Going to be a Wonderful Conference…
I am delighted to announce that the 2nd Annual Meeting of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC) is fully organized and scheduled for Washington DC, November 4-6 2010!
Everyone–Healthcare Advocates, Consumers (that’s all of us who receive health care!) policy makers and legislators—are welcome to attend the three-day gathering of this professional association. The schedule is just amazing:
* Come learn how to set up an advocacy business and tips on developing a marketing strategy
* Listen to expert Healthcare Advocates and Patient Navigators detail case studies and solutions
* Be inspired by “serial healthcare entrepreneur” Tim Godzich who grew a “consumer driven health plan” company (and find out what that means!)
* Delve into the healthcare insurance maze and learn how to master it
* Learn about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to healthcare
* Understand the complexities of participating in Clinical Trails
* Expand your “tool kit” for navigating the healthcare system for someone of any age
There is much more: visit the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (I founded it just a year ago, and we now have over ninety members) at www.nahac.com. Join the Association, come to the Conference and expand your knowledge: See you in Washington DC in November!
The Blog is Back!
After several months absence–and many wonderful developments–I am resuming the Healthcare Liaison Blog! It was a very busy fall…
Healthcare Liaison is expanding the 2010 locations for for its popular two-day workshop “Becoming a Healthcare Advocate: 11 Steps to a New Career in Healthcare”. These workshops are open to consumers, professional healthcare advocates, those teaching in the field and policy and legislative interests. We have new locations!
SEATTLE, WA–January 30 and 31st
BERKELEY, CA–February 27th and 28th
TUCSON, AZ–March 20th and 21st
BOSTON, MA–May 1st and 2nd
The links will take you to the brochure describing the workshop and you can complete payment on-line with a credit card or PayPal. There are still spaces in the Seattle workshop and registrants are eligible for a referral bonus when they “bring a friend”.
In other major news, we have a professional organization! I founded the organization, the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants, in July 2009 and am now the President of NAHAC for 209-2010. You can read about the Association and join at NAHAC
In November 2009 the newly-formed National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants held its First Annual Conference! NAHAC currently has 62 members and membership is open to everyone: professional advocates, consumers, academicians and policy and legislative participants. Members who were not able to attend the conference can listen to the podcast on the web site and hear workshops on case studies, HIPAA for advocates, insurance-made-understandable and more. to join: NAHAC.
We are holding our second annual Conference in Washington DC in November 2010. Join NAHAC to get the details as soon as they’re released!
Early Registration closes October 15th….
The newly formed National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants has put together a wonderful First Annual Conference in Berkeley for next month, on November 14th and 15th. Come hear these presenters:
Ann Tardy, Founder, LifeMoxie; Keynote Presenter: “The New World of Healthcare Advocacy — Creating It Together!”
Jeff Belkora, PhD, Director of Decision Services and Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Institute for Health Policy Studies, U.C.S.F.: “Making Good Decisions in a Family Health Crisis”
Linda Garrett, Partner, Risk Management Services: “Confidentiality and Privacy Law for Healthcare Advocates”
Gail Gazelle, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School: “Inside the Doctor’s Mind: What Every Advocate Needs to Know”
Maggie Radany, RN, Founder, Radany & Associates: “How to Solve Health Insurance Problems and Be a Hero to Your Clients!”
Dianne Savastano, Founder & President, Healthassist: “Bringing Bob Home: A Case Study in Patient Advocacy”
Elisabeth Schuler Russell, Founder & President, Patient Navigator LLC: “Inside the World of Pediatric Healthcare Advocacy”
Judith Stark, Principal, Judith Stark Consulting: “Harnessing the Power of Technology Solutions for Healthcare Warriors”.
To register, go to www.nahac.com. Early registration (at the reduced rate of $150 for NAHAC members and $200 for non-members) ends October 15th. After Oct. 15th the rates will be $200 for NAHAC members and $250 for non-members.
First Annual Conference of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants
As interim President of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC) , I am pleased to announce the First Annual NAHAC Conference. It will be held at the University of California, Berkeley on November 14th and 15th 2009 at the Clark Kerr Campus. This two day event features talented and skilled practitioners in the field of Healthcare Advocacy. The event is open to the public as well as Association members.
To view the conference brochure and register for the Conference go here.
To receive the 25% Conference discount for members of NAHAC, please join the Association and complete your membership payment before registering and paying for the Conference event.
We look forward to seeing you in Berkeley!
Understanding the Mysteries of Medicare
Need help with Medicare? It’s a complicated system to understand, especially when you’re first enrolling. Join me in at a workshop in Portland, Oregon September 12th to learn and understand how it works. The text of the flyer follows:
Read the complete post >>>
National Association Formed
I am very pleased to announce the formation of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC, www.nahac.com), the organization, as it says on the web page, “dedicated to improving the consumer healthcare experience.” Why NAHAC and why now?
Read the complete post >>>
Empowered Healthcare Conference May 16, 2009
Joanna Smith, LCSW, MPH, the CEO of Healthcare Liaison, will be a panelist at the upcoming Empowered Healthcare Conference, Saturday, May 16th at Mission Bay, San Francisco. To find out more information and register for the conference, read the information at the Empowered Healthcare Conference web site.
Empowered Healthcare Conference
Advance Directives—and Physicians Order on Life-Sustaining Treatment
For years there have been “Advance Directives” that you could fill out to state what your wishes were about care for yourself should there be a time when you could no longer state your wishes. Advance Directives allowed people to appoint agents to make healthcare decisions on their behalf, and to state the kinds of care they would wish to have.
Read the complete post >>>
Marie Shouldice R.N. B.S.N. Becomes a Certified Private Healthcare Advocate
Marie Shouldice R.N. B.S.N.
Phone: 510-300-4782
mariesrn@healthcareliaison.com
Serving clients ages 14 years and up
in Alameda & Contra Costa Counties.
Certified Private Healthcare Advocate
Practice Focus, Interests
Practically speaking, I am a human GPS for healthcare, and can take you on the most direct and useful route to your healthcare destination. I regularly perform complex case management and discharge planning, pre-operative orthopedic total joint instruction and general surgery preparation and recovery planning. I will assess your situation, and together we will create an individual plan of care to meet your needs.
Navigating the healthcare system on your own can often take you on circuitous routes and sometimes end up in gridlock. With my up-to-date, practical, and functional knowledge as a Case Manager, I will enable you to recognize medical “traffic jams” while confidently advocating your concerns to your healthcare providers. I can efficiently and thoughtfully navigate the healthcare system, both inpatient and outpatient.
Professional History
I have been an R.N. Patient Care Coordinator/Case Manager for more than 25 years. I have worked at UCSF, St. Mary’s Medical Center, San Francisco, and have spent the last 8 years at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
Academic Background
I am a California-Licensed R.N. and have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from San Francisco State University. In addition, I have a Certificate in Legal Nurse Consulting from California State University East Bay.
Michael Knappman, BS, MPAS Becomes a Certified Private Healthcare Advocate
Michael Knappman, BS, MPAS
Phone: 707-792-1619
michaelk@healthcareliaison.com
Serving Sonoma County, Northern California
Certified Private Healthcare Advocate
Practice Focus, Interests
“I am a cancer survivor and have experience assisting others with cancer diagnoses, understanding the complex choices they face, and accessing appropriate care. My field of practice has been in primary care medicine serving individuals of all ages. I have considerable experience working with the Spanish speaking population, and have a special interest in working in cross cultural medicine.”
Professional History
I have practiced as a licensed Physician Assistant in the areas of primary care medicine, women’s health, and pediatrics for over 20 years. I spent the last 17 years working for the Sonoma County Health Services Department, in Santa Rosa, CA.
Academic Background
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley, and my Physician Assistant Certificate from the UC Davis Medical School FNP/PA program. I completed a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies through the University of Nebraska Medical School. I am a member of the California Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA), the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC). I served as a Board member of the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park, CA for six years.