How can you ensure that your patient advocacy program aligns with your organization's values?

1 Assess your organization's values

The first step to align your patient advocacy program with your organization's values is to understand what those values are. You can do this by reviewing your organization's mission statement, vision statement, core values, code of ethics, policies, and procedures. These documents should provide you with a clear picture of what your organization stands for, what it aims to achieve, and how it expects its staff to behave. You can also talk to your leaders, colleagues, and stakeholders to get their perspectives and insights on your organization's values.

2 Define your patient advocacy goals

The next step is to define your patient advocacy goals based on your organization's values. Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). They should also be aligned with your organization's strategic objectives and priorities, as well as the needs and preferences of your patients. For example, if your organization values quality, safety, and innovation, your patient advocacy goals could include improving patient satisfaction, reducing adverse events, and implementing evidence-based practices.

3 Develop your patient advocacy strategies

Once you have your patient advocacy goals, you need to develop your patient advocacy strategies to achieve them. Your strategies should outline the actions, activities, and resources that you will use to advocate for your patients in different situations and settings. For example, your strategies could include educating your patients about their rights and options, communicating effectively with your patients and other health care providers, collaborating with your patients and their families to develop care plans, and resolving conflicts and complaints in a respectful and ethical manner.

4 Evaluate your patient advocacy outcomes

The final step is to evaluate your patient advocacy outcomes to measure the impact and effectiveness of your patient advocacy program. You can do this by collecting and analyzing data on various indicators, such as patient feedback, quality indicators, compliance rates, and cost savings. You can also solicit feedback from your leaders, colleagues, and stakeholders to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your patient advocacy program. Based on the results, you can make adjustments and improvements to your patient advocacy program as needed.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your patient advocacy program aligns with your organization's values and supports its vision and mission. This will not only benefit your patients, but also enhance your professional reputation, credibility, and satisfaction as a case manager.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?