Medical Advocate

The healthcare system can be daunting and hard to navigate, especially when we are unfamiliar with the twists and turns. There continues to be an overwhelming amount of barriers that make healthcare complex. Coordinating care between multiple providers, understanding medical terminology or the complexities of chronic medical conditions, knowing your rights or how to advocate for treatment options, or even finding appropriate providers to manage treatment can create make getting adequate and effective care seem hopeless. Additionally, if you want to pursue your healthcare through a holistic lens, it can be difficult to find providers who will look at the whole picture and provide alternatives to traditional approaches.

Our medical advocate seeks to guide you through this process, so you can feel empowered to take control of your healthcare. They will do a comprehensive review of your medical and/or mental health concerns to look holistically at your concerns and work with you to develop your optimal wellness goals. Through this process, they will educate you so you have a better understanding about your healthcare and the ability to advocate for yourself with your medical team. They work collaboratively with other providers involved in your care, including your therapist and medical doctors. Most importantly, they can provide emotional support as you go through the process of finding your optimal wellness plan.

Our medical advocate is frequently studying what is new in the field to grow their skills and be the best clinician they can be for you. Ultimately, their goal is to consider the body's systems as interconnected and to address the whole patient, not just the disease.

Meet Polly Sheridan, PA and schedule your appointment today.

  • A Physician Assistant acting in the role of a medical advocate will not replace your medical team of physicians or mental health providers. These professions complement each other and work collaboratively to help you experience symptom reduction and improve your ability to cope.

    Think of your medical advocate more as a case worker helping you navigate the complex medical sphere. With the medical advocate having a medical background, it will allow them to offer more comprehensive insight into making recommendations for your healthcare.

  • The main difference between these providers is the route they took to be able to treat health concerns.

    Physicians attend traditional medical school (M.D.) or osteopathic medical school (D.O.) and complete residency and fellowship in their respective specialty. They can work independently.

    Physician Assistants (P.A.) attend physician assistant school. They do not specialize per se, but can attain additional clinical experience in variety of different specialties. They have a direct oversight relationship with a physician when providing direct clinical care.

  • Prior to your first session, your medical advocate will want to have as much information as possible. They will want to review your current medical files. We encourage you to either sign a release of information for your providers to send the information or you can upload the information directly into our EMR system.

    In the first session, our medical advocate will gather medical and mental health information, assess your symptoms, and inquire about family history. They will review your current medical records with you. They may recommend additional labs to further assess what’s going on with your body.

    They will work collaboratively with you to establish a treatment plan which may include referrals to other providers. They will schedule a follow-up visit to review your progress on your treatment plan.

Our Approach

  1. Gather medical and mental health information, examining symptoms and family history through an intake process.

  2. Review medical tests, labs, X-rays, MRIs, scans, etc.

  3. Educate clients about their conditions and answer any questions you may have about the treatment process.

  4. Provide guidance on overcoming technological barriers that may impede access to services, such as helping you schedule appointments, accessing telehealth services, etc.

  5. Facilitate communication with your healthcare providers by either being an intermediaries with you during consultations or helping you to be prepared to advocate for yourself in consultations with your providers.

  6. Assist in reducing barriers to treatment by finding transportation options, finding accessible options, or locating providers that best suit your needs.

  7. Make medical recommendations to address any concerns that may have been overlooked, recommendations of specialists, or alternative treatment approaches based on your wellness goals.

  8. Provide emotional support as you navigate the challenges with meeting your optimal wellness goals.