---
title: Together Patient Advocates Blog | patient advocate
description: patient advocate | Topics ranging from how to advocate for yourself to the benefits of patient advocates.
---

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# Together Patient Advocates Blog

[![](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/image.jpeg) ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/health-magazine-interview)

## [Health Magazine Interview on Patient Advocacy](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/health-magazine-interview)

 [fa icon="calendar'] Jul 6, 2021 5:00:00 AM / by [Kim Mcilnay, BCPA](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/author/kim-mcilnay-bcpa) posted in [patient advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/patient-advocate)

[[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/health-magazine-interview#comments-listing)

I'm a bit slow in getting this out, but better late than never. Health Magazine interviewed me a while back, along with several other advocates. I thought they did a great job explaining what a health advocate does and how we can help members of marginalized communities.

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[![](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Waiting%20room%20with%20reception%20in%20medical%20clinic.jpeg) ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/virtual-advocacy-for-surgeries)

## [Virtual Advocacy for Surgeries](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/virtual-advocacy-for-surgeries)

 [fa icon="calendar'] Jan 15, 2021 4:00:00 AM / by [Kim Mcilnay, BCPA](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/author/kim-mcilnay-bcpa) posted in [Hospital](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/hospital), [patient advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/patient-advocate)

[[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/virtual-advocacy-for-surgeries#comments-listing)

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and surge in hospitalizations,  patients having surgery are largely not permitted to have anyone accompany them. This means that your personal (family member, friend) or professional advocate won’t be able to be with you in person. But the good news is that she can still advocate for you if you bring her into the room by phone or video. For ideas on how to virtually connect with your advocate, see my post, [How to Create Long-Distance Advocate Partnerships. ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-create-long-distance-advocate-partnerships)

[Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/virtual-advocacy-for-surgeries)

[![](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Red%20Small%20Flag%20with%20House%20Icon%20on%20a%20Map%20Background%20with%20Selective%20Focus..jpeg) ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-create-long-distance-advocate-partnerships)

## [How to Create Long-Distance Advocate Partnerships](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-create-long-distance-advocate-partnerships)

 [fa icon="calendar'] Dec 11, 2020 6:00:00 AM / by [Kim Mcilnay, BCPA](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/author/kim-mcilnay-bcpa) posted in [patient advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/patient-advocate)

[[fa icon="comment"] 1 Comment](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-create-long-distance-advocate-partnerships#comments-listing)

You would like to hire an advocate. You’ve followed my tips on [How to Choose an Advocate,](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-advocate) but the advocate you want to hire isn’t in your area. Do you need to keep searching? Not necessarily.

[Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-create-long-distance-advocate-partnerships)

[![](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Happy%20mature%20woman%20using%20her%20laptop%20and%20calling.jpeg) ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-advocate)

## [How to Choose an Advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-advocate)

 [fa icon="calendar'] Nov 13, 2020 7:00:00 AM / by [Kim Mcilnay, BCPA](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/author/kim-mcilnay-bcpa) posted in [patient advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/patient-advocate)

[[fa icon="comment"] 2 Comments](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-advocate#comments-listing)

You need a patient advocate, but you’re not sure how to find the one that’s right for you. Here are four tips to help you through the search and selection process.

[Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-advocate)

[![](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/The%20New%20River%20Gorge%20Bridge%2c%20seen%20from%20Fayette%20Station%20Road%2c%20at%20the%20New%20River%20Gorge%20National%20River%2c%20West%20Virginia..jpeg) ](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/what-is-a-patient-advocate)

## [What is a Patient Advocate?](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/what-is-a-patient-advocate)

 [fa icon="calendar'] Oct 30, 2020 7:00:00 AM / by [Kim Mcilnay, BCPA](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/author/kim-mcilnay-bcpa) posted in [patient advocate](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/topic/patient-advocate)

[[fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/what-is-a-patient-advocate#comments-listing)

When you decide to see a doctor, you have a good idea of what they will do for you. But what if someone suggests you hire a patient advocate? Would you know what that person could do? Or for that matter, how you’d even go about finding one?

[Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]](https://www.togetherpatientadvocates.com/blog/what-is-a-patient-advocate)

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#### About Me

My clinical experience as a family physician combined with my personal experience as a patient with chronic illness makes me an exceptional choice to be your patient advocate. 

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