Anyone who is passionate about patients' rights can get involved in patient advocacy. Health workers with experience in nursing, medical records, admitting and the business office often transition into patient advocacy positions at healthcare facilities, says Jean Fankhanel, coordinator of patient relations at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California and a member of the Society of Healthcare Consumer Advocacy. Most patient advocates have an undergraduate degree, she says. Working as a patient advocate is easier if you're familiar with medical terminology and hospital culture, she adds. Students who attend the health advocacy master's program at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, come from all walks of life.
Many students have backgrounds in community service or experience in the healthcare arena.
Some had intense personal or family healthcare experiences that made them realize patients need help navigating the system, says program director Marsha Hurst. Sarah Lawrence offers the nation's only master's degree in health advocacy. The program includes unique coursework on understanding illness from the patient's perspective, empathizing with patients and families, and bioethics, Hurst says.