Are you a good listener? If so, you can qualify to be a Patient Advocate.
Our Cognitive Listening Service is delivered by a trained patient advocate who performs the following functions:
Deep Conversational Uptake: The advocate utilizes responsive verbal cues such as repeating, paraphrasing, and reformulating the patient's statements to explicitly demonstrate that their views and concerns have been processed and fully understood. This makes the patient feel "adequately supported and heard", fulfilling the organization's vision.
Cognitive Decoupling: In high-stress or information-dense settings (like a doctor's appointment), the advocate reduces the cognitive load on the patient. The advocate can take notes and serve as a mental "buffer," retaining information that the patient may not process or remember due to anxiety or illness-related cognitive limitations.
Sensemaking and Clarity: The advocate helps the patient identify main points, supporting points, facts, and inferences within the medical dialogue. This is crucial for patients with chronic or complex illnesses who must make informed decisions about complicated treatment paths.
Nonverbal and Emotional Processing: Listening involves not just the words but the emotional context. The advocate provides emotional support by demonstrating a "cognitive understanding of patient needs" and an "affective imagination of what the patient values," ensuring the patient's full, vulnerable narrative is captured and respected.
BECOME AN ADVOCATE
Volunteer Advocate support is important because it helps communities by filling gaps in services, building social connections, and creating a culture of service. It also benefits volunteers personally and professionally by improving mental and physical health, building skills, and increasing self-esteem and life satisfaction.
Benefits Our Advocates
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Improves mental and physical health: Volunteering can reduce stress, combat depression, lower the risk of chronic health problems, and increase happiness and life satisfaction.
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Increases social connections: It provides opportunities to meet new people, form friendships, and build a supportive network, especially for those who may feel isolated.
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Provides a sense of purpose: Helping others can give a person a greater sense of purpose and meaning, particularly during times of transition.
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Boosts career prospects: Volunteering can improve job prospects by providing new skills, professional contacts, and experience that make a person more attractive to employers.