Patient Advocate Has Advice For Anyone

Who May Be Hospitalized

HARTFORD — Some hospital stays come after much planning, in the case of scheduled procedures. For many patients, however, a sudden or severe emergency may put them in the hospital for a lengthy period of time.

Regardless of how a patient ends up there, patients should be prepared to reduce the risks of potential problems while in the hospital.

Sharon Gauthier, owner of Patient Advocate for You, manages the hospital care her clients receive statewide. She recently warned that patients need to know and understand that their primary care physician will likely not manage their care.

“Although you may have a primary doctor in the community, the system in place in the hospitals today are hospitalist roles,” said Ms Gauthier. “Therefore, you will likely receive care from a physician meeting you for the very first time.”

In order to close any gaps in communication, Ms Gauthier advises that patients insist the physician treating them in the hospital have a discussion with the primary physician to lessen the risk of an oversight in care.

Number two on the must-know in advance list: make sure medication is properly managed.

The medication a patient takes at home will not necessarily be the same medication they are given in the hospital. Each hospital has a formulary of their own medications, so a “pink” pill at home may be a “yellow” one in the hospital.

Thirdly, she said be prepared for pain management. Many hospitals have a pain protocol that may mean what a patient is prescribed in the hospital may not be what they use at home. Often patients have to take the initiative, insisting they receive the same pain management medication at home as in the hospital.

“I had a patient who was admitted where they changed his medication to their own pain protocol, which put him in withdrawal,” said Ms Gauthier. “That’s why it’s so important to make sure the treatment is consistent across the board.”

Ranking fourth on Ms Gauthier’s list is movement. It is of utmost importance that patients stay mobile while in the hospital. Even if the hospital staff does not encourage a patient to get out of bed, patients should ask if they may do so.

“There are a lot of risks from staying in bed,” said Ms Gauthier. “The most obvious are blood clots and sores.”

Fifth and final on the list: choices.

If a patient has to go to a short-term rehab center or receive visiting nurses services at home, they should have options.

“Just because you’re told you are discharged shouldn’t push you into taking the first spot open without family members checking it out first and asking a lot of questions,” said Ms Gauthier.

Patient Advocate for You specializes in managing all facets of care for patients in need of assistance navigating the health care system. Most commonly, Patient Advocate is brought on to help individuals living in the sandwich generation — caring for their own children and elderly parents at the same time.

Patient Advocate for You provides the following services:

*Scheduling and attending appointments

*Communicating to physicians an accurate depiction of a patient’s medical history

*Serving as an oversight of care that is delivered to patient

*Support, coordination, and collaboration with health care team

*Crisis Intervention

Sharon Gauthier has nearly two decades of experience working in the health care profession. She is a graduate of the St Francis School of Nursing, University of Hartford Bachelor’s Degree Nursing Program (BSN), University of Hartford Master’s Degree Public Health & Community Nursing (MSN).

She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Capital Community College and St Joseph’s College. Ms Gauthier also holds an RN Patient Advocate Certification and is the recipient of several awards for clinical excellence and care.

Ms Gauthier is also involved in patient advocacy on a national level, serving on the planning committee of the national conference of The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants.