What role does patient advocacy play in healthcare?

The role of patient advocacy in healthcare is crucial as it focuses on ensuring that patients receive appropriate care and that their rights are upheld throughout the healthcare process. Patient advocates work to empower patients to make informed decisions about their own health and care options, providing support in navigating the complexities of healthcare systems. They emphasize the importance of individual patients’ needs, preferences, and experiences, representing these interests to healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Advocacy also includes raising awareness about patients' rights, helping to eliminate barriers to care, and ensuring equitable treatment for all individuals.

While reducing healthcare costs, designing clinical trials, or increasing efficiency can be beneficial aspects of healthcare systems, they do not encapsulate the central mission of patient advocacy. Advocacy is specifically concerned with the patients themselves, prioritizing their care and rights above other considerations. This aspect highlights the fundamental purpose of advocacy within the broader framework of patient-centered healthcare.