Patient Advocates

Bristol, Conn. (WTNH) - The complex health care issue is a growing concern for many patients but now there are patient advocates stepping up to help ease their minds.

Retired teacher Trisha Harding is a bit more independent now-- when it comes to managing her health.
But more than a year ago, that wasn't the case.

"I was too weak.  I didn't know what was going on a lot of times because I was on pain pills."

Her right toes had just been amputated and doctors recommended a below the knee amputation. That's when Trisha reached out to Sharon Gauthier - a retired RN -- who is now a patient advocate.

Sharon says, "We realized she had a bone infection that no one identified, had circulatory issues and just got her to the right people to fix that."
 
With no family nearby, Trisha needed someone to coordinate her care.

Sharon, the owner of Patient Advocate For You , says, "A patient advocate is your voice when you're ill."

And with a health care system often difficult to navigate, someone else thinking clearly, is a benefit.

Sharon says, "From having a hospitalist managing your care versus your primary physician to multiple nursing staff because a lot of them are part time.  There is nobody really taking charge of the entire case."

Trisha does pay a fee for having someone like Sharon monitoring her health care.

I do get calls from people who can't afford me.  I understand that so I try to give them some kind of direction as to where they can go."

Asked if Sharon had not been in her life, Trisha says, "It's very possible I wouldn't have a leg right now below the knee."

With more and more patients like Trisha needing someone to speak up for them there will likely to be a greater demand for patient advocates like Sharon.