Wayfinder Advantage

05/07/2024

"Distrust, then verify."

A play on the adage “trust but verify” by a family that long felt dismissed & mistreated by their care partners.

➡️ A missed diagnosis.
➡️ Deferred blame.
➡️ Specialist after Specialist.

I do what I can to support them as they rebuild trust with their team.

✅ I attend medical appointments.
✅ We request longer appointments when needed.
✅ An extra chair is placed in the exam room so I can take notes, ask questions, and ask for clarification if needed.
✅ I review providers' notes in the medical record.
✅ If the family has a question about a treatment, I find the notes & evidence and then compare the decision to current treatment guidelines.

If needed, I'll draft memos (reviewed by the client before sending) requesting clarification or risk-to-benefit analysis.

While I wish they had received the appropriate quality care they deserved from the beginning, being part of their healthcare family is an honor, and I do what I can to reestablish trust so they can find peace.

To learn about working with me, DM or comment below.

03/08/2024

130 🗓️
16 ⛵️
3 🌊
2 🏆
1 🇺🇸

A few stats that highlight the achievement of Cole Brauer as she successfully returned to port after 130 days at sea, passing 3 capes, making history as the 1 US woman to sail solo nonstop around the world. 🍾

At 29 yo, she is the youngest competitor out of 16 (1/2 retiring) and finished with epic style in 2nd place.

As a sailor I obviously admire her strength, courage, skills, and determination.

I ❤️ her willingness to be exactly who she is without feeling compelled to “BE” or act a certain way in a world (ie professional competitive sailing).

As an advocate, her achievement speaks to belief in possibility and grace while navigating adversity.

She set her sights, overcame the pain, and made it happen.

So bravos congratulations, and well done! 😎🙌🥳

Eat all the crossants you want….you earned them!💯

After a grueling four-month competition, 29-year-old Cole Brauer is believed to be the first American woman to sail alone around the world. She joins TODAY l...

02/02/2024

I am delighted to share that I will be participating in the upcoming Brain Health Summit hosted by Dementia Capable Cares.

Their work for the dementia community is powerful and crucial for patients and caregivers.

At this event, I tailored the information for families and caregivers managing Dementia, improving well-being while reducing medication risks and harm.

And yet, the impact and CORE INSIGHT of this session is relevant for EVERYONE navigating our healthcare system.

REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE BRAIN HEALTH SUMMIT ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ in the comments

Interested in learning more and bringing this message to your team or organization?

DM or comment below, and let's talk about your needs.

01/31/2024

“I’d like you to consider a driving assessment.”

Words nobody wants to hear, especially a strong, proud veteran.

Attending a client’s doctor appointment and being in the exam room with the family when a life-altering diagnosis is delivered is emotional.

Fear, loss, anxiety, and an uncertain future floods the mind.

Yet in those moments, there’s compassion, and a sense of “together we’ve got this.”

I feel honored that families invite me into these moments.

I know it’s an opportunity to offer immediate support however I may best serve the situation.

In this case it’s fortunate I joined my client’s healthcare team early in their journey.

While they’re processing the news, I, understanding their goals and resources, begin work behind the scenes, supporting them with tools and strategies needed to remain independent for as long as possible.

It feels like what true “heath CARE” and teamwork is all about.

To learn about my work in advocacy, or to discuss adding me to your team, DM or comment below.

12/05/2023

3 Doctor appointments > 5 New medications >2 Medication cross-tapers > in 4 days.

Watching the situation unfold, I understood the severity of the triggering event, the rationale, and the goals.

The challenge: all these changes to drug therapy without a clear, thoughtful, and focused strategy increase risks.

➡️ Duplication
➡️ Errors
➡️ Side effects
➡️ Wasted money
➡️ Harm

If you’re thinking: “Yes, I see what you’re saying…but what’s the alternative.”

I get that. I've had those thoughts, too.

The reality is that complex illnesses often involve complex drug therapy regimens that change frequently.

YET, how can we make changes, sometimes several at once, while reducing risks?

That’s my mission for today.

As a pharmacist-patient advocate, I bring 30 years of medication use awareness, knowledge, and experience to the conversation.

My client isn’t managing this chaos alone.

Together, drug by drug, we'll create a strategy that creates peace of mind.

If this post sounds familiar and hits close to home…know you're not alone.

To work with me, DM or comment below.

11/16/2023

“Thank you. Yesterday, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.”

-A client’s daughter

I have a medically complex client. The situation required a scan.

With a high-risk health history, I was baffled by how the earliest appointment offered was in JANUARY.

When we know early detection is critical, how do we ask patients and their families to wait three months for a scan?

I called the scheduling department and had a chat.

They found an appointment for yesterday, MINUTES from home!

The scan is stable.

I didn’t “scam” or “work” the system; instead, I reminded the provider of the options available IN their medical system.

I shouldn’t have needed to remind the clinician, but because I did, a family will enjoy the holidays with peace of mind.

To learn about my work and services, comment below or DM.

10/26/2023

Want to see 2 people who generally respect each other lose control?

If so, watch a couple dock a boat.

Echoing across the boatyard last weekend:
1st person: “Why aren’t you looking?!? I TOLD you to look HERE! THIS is what’s important! You have to ANTICIPATE!”

2nd person: “I AM looking!!!!! You aren’t LISTENING! I can’t be in 2 places at ONCE!”

Total CRINGE!

Having witnessed/experienced this TIME after TIME, I figured out WHY perfectly normal people descend into madness, using language more appropriate at a cage match.

It’s not about:
· Damage to the boat
· Personal injury
· Lacking skills

It’s ALL about
· Being heard
· Perspective
· Assumptions

Guess what: This same dynamic unfolds in healthcare daily.

Patients feel
· Providers make unreasonable requests
· Are too busy
· Act dismissively
· Prescribe pills too quickly to get them out of the office.

Providers focus
· On what they can control (i.e., the problem immediately in front of them)
· Are pressured to see more patients faster (because of payment models)
· Think they understand what’s most important to the patient WITHOUT discussing the patient’s motivation.

Each party leaves the encounter frustrated, tired, and feeling their insight isn’t valued.

When I’m in the room with clients & providers, I observe body language and listen for what is said and left unsaid.

I enter conversations with an open mind, curiosity, and a belief in what’s possible.

I find creative solutions through collaboration and common ground.

And in the “AH HA” moments of alignment, you FEEL synergy, compassion, and peace, feelings seldom felt by too many in today’s environment.

To learn more about my work as an advocate, DM or comment below. Let's connect & see what's possible.

10/09/2023

“Your call is the 21st in line. If you’d like to hold, please press 1.”

-The message I receive calling a doctor for a client.

This same clinic inadvertently canceled an appointment she waited a month to have, placing her in the back of the queue when she called to reschedule.

When told about the situation on a call with the doctor this morning at 8 a.m., he replied, “We’re having staffing issues. Someone is on medical leave, and we’re scrambling.”

Welcome to 21st-century healthcare in the USA.

Groundbreaking treatments, with providers committed to positive outcomes, sandwiched between overworked frontline staff and systems so automated that mistakes sometimes happen without anyone noticing the issue.

This is why I intentionally keep my practice streamlined: secure messaging & video and direct phone numbers for urgent needs.

As a patient advocate, my clients are already deep in a problem…they don’t need talking to me to be another one.

PS: The doctor/nurse fixed the scheduling issue, which was a massive victory...though the stress the glitch caused was unfortunate.

09/21/2023

Do you feel that navigating your healthcare is like waves washing the sand from under your feet?

As a patient advocate, working with clients is like standing at the water's edge, feeling the constant ebb and flow of the ocean.

You and your healthcare situation: the waves.

The ocean: the healthcare system.

Some waves are gentle, relaxing, and serene.

Others wash over our heads and risk pulling us into deep waters.

Understanding that conditions can change rapidly, possibly without warning, I'm ever watching for early signs of trouble.

I remind us that committing to our self-care isn't indulgent; it's essential to building resilience.

We take in the moments of calm and celebrate success, while I remain ever watchful to the horizon for potential hazards.

These steps protect my and my client's well-being and create a safe harbor where we can both make decisions in a state of calm.

To learn more about working with an independent patient advocate, DM or comment below.

08/22/2023

"If you had a billboard to share ONE message with passersby about patient advocacy, what would you say?"

After last week's presentation, a participant asked me this question in the Q&A.

As a guest speaker, I prepare for these "sum up your philosophy" questions, yet, having a billboard was a new take.

What WOULD I want folks to know about patient advocacy?

Hmmmmm.

My billboard would say, "Please ASK!"

Why?

Too often, the stories I hear have a moment when someone WANTED to ask a question but DIDN'T.

Patients feared being
➡️problematic
➡️distrusting
➡️attention seeking
➡️emotional
➡️difficult
➡️ignorant
➡️time wasting
➡️and disrespectful.

Yet IN that UN-asked question was often the PAUSE needed to highlight their
· confusion
· fear
· anxiety
· pain
· need for additional resources
· inadequate family support
· commitment to their values
· deep love and concern for friends and family.

So, knowing just HOW DAMN DIFFICULT it is to request a time-out when speaking with your healthcare provider, I encourage you to ASK
✅when you need further clarification.
✅if the doctor needs to speak more slowly.
✅if you want a 2nd opinion.
✅when you want a family member or friend in the room for support.
✅for alternatives if the prescribed treatment isn't aligned with your life circumstances.

And if going it alone is beyond your comfort zone, call me.

I'll back you up!

Your voice is important & your questions matter! 💯

08/15/2023

Do you want to travel yet feel overwhelmed by thoughts of "What would I do if______?"

Then this video is for you!

I'm excited about my time with Jason Brick, travel safety wizard, writer, and all-around great father, covering strategies supporting fun, adventurous, safe, and healthy travel.

To learn more or if you have questions, DM or comment below.

https://www.facebook.com/1494311902/videos/1286869508867966/

08/14/2023

The moment my head hit the pillow, it started.
😟 The rehearsal
😒 The self-condemnation
And the questions:
🤔 Had I prepared too much or too little?
🤯 What if nobody OR too many show up?
😑 Why won't you embrace Botox?

11:00 PM > 11:45 PM > 12:15 AM…

My sleep tracker says it was 1:14 AM when I fell asleep.

Why the drama?

I have seven presentations in the next 14 days.

Knowing that tomorrow the clock starts, I'm feeling the pressure of the coming weeks.

I planned a bike ride today; however, “Maybe it’s better if I start working now?"

(Insert the sound of a needle scratching a record)…”WTF are you doing?!?!?!?”

See, for the better part of 20 years; I worked in systems with little regard for the health of their employees.

My conditioning is WORK over HEALTH…especially my health.

So, I grabbed my bike and hit the trail.

In moments like this, I'm surprised that even in a system I control, it is easy to neglect my team…and by "team," I mean me…as I AM my TEAM. 😅

So, why share?

Whether we work in a system or as a solopreneur: everything we are is INTRINSICALLY connected to our health.

And while I can't wave a wand and fix all the dysfunctional work environments, I encourage you to safeguard yourself to the best of your abilities in whatever way you can.

We only have one you…and you matter. 💯

08/10/2023

Becoming a diver changed my life. 💯

I gained an “instant” global family.

So you can imagine my excitement when my nephew joined our ranks.

In this photo, he saw his 1st sharks, sea turtles, AND a baby octopus.

The dive site: the Mala Pier.

Location: Lahaina, Maui.

Looking at this photo, I'm struggling to reconcile the images of utter destruction I awoke to this morning when I turned on the news.

Lahaina was engulfed in the wildfires that raged across Maui.

The first Facebook post on my feed read, “It is a horrible night for us in Lahaina. The shop and so many homes are gone…”

We had two dives with Maui Diving in Lahaina with one of the best divemasters EVER!

I met the dive team and visited the shop for only a few hours, yet I feel the pain of my dive family & the greater Lahaina/Maui community.

The fires remain an active threat, and as such, information flows & changes quickly.

Many residents and travelers have limited if any, resources.

EMS and disaster teams are onsite to triage and provide services.

Since providing physical “dive boots on the ground” assistance is impractical, I’m offering my travel health & advocacy services at no charge to those affected in Maui and the Big Island.

If you know of someone that needs assistance, please DM and I’ll do what I can to support you.

08/09/2023

When you think about Hawaii, what comes to mind?

⛱ Beaches
⛵️Water sports
🔥Wildfires & emergency evacuation orders.

For the 2nd time in a month, popular vacation destinations are conducting large-scale evacuations.

In mid-July, Rhodes, Greece, evacuated four locations, including two seaside resorts. The fires continue to burn.

Maui and the Big Island are scrambling to contain, triage, and coordinate rescue efforts.

These destinations have somewhat limited infrastructure and transportation.

And, as islands, you can only travel so far before you hit the water.

Such large-scale catastrophic events impact everyone.

And yet I can't help but think of the anxiety & confusion a traveler, someone unfamiliar with the location, possibly not a native language speaker, or someone with medical conditions, is experiencing in the chaos.

My good friend Jason Brick and I have been working on a travel health & safety project to share tools, tips, and skills needed to travel safely as a family.

While fire safety wasn't intended as a lesson per sec, being a prepared, proactive, aware traveler with a plan is!

Please join us next Tuesday, 8/15, for the first of several LIVE travel health & safety sessions.

Have questions? DM or comment below.

I'll share the event link in the coming days.

08/08/2023

“Friends biking in Europe. They are over 60 years old. One has pre-existing medical conditions. They have questions about emergency evacuation insurance. Can you help?”

This is a summary of an email I received last week.

After talking with the traveler, I realized I hadn’t shared that I offer Travel-Health coaching as part of my patient advocacy practice.

As a patient advocate/pharmacist who is ALSO a world traveler, the daughter of parents who navigated complex medical conditions (cancer and dementia), and a lover of extreme water sports: diving and sailing, I KNOW travel's transformational power.

AND I find too many folks “sidelined” from travel when their health is compromised.

Why?

➡️️ Travel invites logistical uncertainty and increased complexity.

➡️ It introduces the unknown.

➡️ Some feel that their participation burdens families- creating the perception that the risks & level of effort are too high.

While there may be genuine travel risks, thoughtful planning, communication, and focusing on POSSIBILITIES (instead of fears and limitations) reduce stress, mitigate risks, and instill confidence.

And THAT’S where my Travel Health Coaching program fits.

For the traveler above, we discussed

➡️ Pre-existing conditions

➡️ Travel plans in detail

➡️ Overall health

➡️ Experience traveling abroad

➡️ Problem-solving abilities

➡️ And, in this case, their concerns about international travel medical and evacuation insurance.

So, if YOU have clients or are yourself living with a complex medical situation and are interested in traveling yet feel overwhelmed, anxious, or defeated, let’s chat!

All programs are tailored to YOUR GOALS & DREAMS!

DM or comment below to learn more.

07/14/2023

What does it take to navigate a state Medicaid phone system?
➡️ 20 minutes
➡️ 3 phone numbers
➡️ 2 abrupt disconnections
➡️ 8 phone options
➡️ And finally, “cheating” (i.e., YES: I am a healthcare provider) to get to a PERSON, not a recording or voicemail or instructions for email.

A person who took the time to explain what actions a client needed to take, confirming (she placed me on hold) the correct phone options so the client could connect with the correct department.

For me, the inefficiency is frustrating and annoying.

And yet, problem-solving is what I do, so I frame the complexity of the process as just another challenge for the day.

For the caller, the family member with a loved one in the hospital whose claim for skilled nursing care was denied, having no ability to provide care, fearing her family member will be discharged on the street, navigating what I described above creates catastrophic anxiety, fear, and a sense of hopelessness.

I’m sure the developer of the process believes they’re directing a caller to the person best suited for the situation.

However, if the caller can’t “find” their situation IN the options (or the system tech glitches), it only serves as a barrier to finding help.

And while my business isn’t as large as a state Medicaid system, I know how complexity creeps into even the leanest operations.

Hence, I strive to eliminate communication barriers.

My clients call/text/email, and I answer.

07/12/2023

Occasionally, you meet someone when EVERYTHING clicks!

During a recent recording session for a podcast with Renee Wellenstein, I KNEW I'd found a kindred spirit.

Dialed into her purpose to positively impact healthcare, Dr. Renee is an amazing soul, outstanding host, AND gifted healthcare healer.

To listen, click on the link: https://lnkd.in/gm5aezW5

06/09/2023

Two folders & a ¼ inch stack of paper.

A client asking me how this happened.

A flurry of tests and consultations.

No coordinated message or strategy other than endless notes in a computer system.

We don’t throw folks into stormy seas and say, “Swim!”

Yet we do that daily by saying, “It’s in your chart. Log in at your convenience. Send a message if you have questions. I’ll respond sometime in three days.”

When I’m asked why I crossed over to patient advocacy: This right here, every day, and more!

To learn more about working with an independent patient advocate, DM or comment below. Let's talk.