Patient advocacy is a powerful way to navigate the healthcare maze.

In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, we feature Pegasystems’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kikelomo “Dayo” Oshunkentan, who talks about the power of patient advocacy and navigating complex healthcare systems. She stresses the importance of patient advocacy, especially for individuals dealing with serious illnesses or injuries. Patient advocacy involves promoting and protecting patients' rights to receive the best care possible. Dr. Dayo explains how patients can actively participate in their healthcare decisions by becoming their own advocates, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed.

Dr. Dayo and Christopher delve into the patient advocate role in effectively communicating their concerns and well-being to healthcare providers. She defines a patient advocate as someone with medical knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system, allowing them to navigate it and effectively convey patients' needs. They both highlight the importance of effective communication between patients and healthcare providers, emphasizing the need for patients to be knowledgeable and empowered. Dr. Dayo and Christopher also discuss seeking second opinions, understanding patient rights, and utilizing technology for better access to care.

Patients must be aware of their worth and right to receive quality care. Therefore, the conversation touches on patients' rights and the importance of self-advocacy. They also address the challenges of limited physician capacity for in-depth conversations and suggest using emerging technologies to summarize patients' diverse information creating more effective communication with providers. Finally, they recognize the efforts of patient advocates and the importance of maintaining records and voicing concerns, escalating them when necessary to ensure appropriate care.

Tune in to learn more about patient advocacy and how to approach it effectively!