Accessing Health Services in a Dynamic System

The intricacies of the US healthcare system can be difficult to navigate even for those of us working within the system. With constantly evolving programs and policies, it is no surprise that patients are often left in the dark concerning available health services and mechanisms for accessing them. As a patient advocate at Health Center 3, I assist patients in obtaining prescription medications through Patient Assistance Programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. These programs exist to help individuals with limited or no health insurance access prescription medications that are beyond their financial capabilities, yet necessary for their health and wellbeing.

These is often a misconception that individuals without health insurance simply don’t prioritize their health. During my time as a patient advocate, I have encountered the opposite - patients with limited access to services have to work twice as hard to maintain the same level of involvement as those with open access to services and care. That is to say, they are often equally invested in their health, despite social and economic adversity. The process for enrolling in Patient Assistance Programs is detailed and lengthy, requiring documentation and approval from both patients and physicians. It often requires the patients to return to my office several times, which can be very demanding when the struggle to make ends meet requires so much time and energy. Follow-up can be challenging, but tackling these issues from a strengths-based perspective, one that views the patient as resilient and having the capacity for growth in the face of adversity, allows for the greatest opportunity for success.

So how can we utilize this approach to empower patients? As a patient advocate I don’t necessarily have the means to change the system, but I have the ability to instill a sense of agency within patients by advocating for better informed patients through education services and improved health literacy. Although there may not be immediate, tangible results, these are the crucial building blocks of improved accessibility in public health.

One pertinent example of this in action is the expansion of Medicaid in Pennsylvania. Many of the individuals I work with have health insurance for the first time and are often unaware of how their new prescription coverage works. By directing them to benefits counselors and insurance specialists, they are able to take ownership of their health and explore the benefits that accompany their insurance. Throughout the rest of my time at Health Center 3, I hope to continue to serve patients by focusing on a strengths-based approach that facilitates dialogue and fosters knowledge, creating well-informed consumers of the healthcare system.
 

This blog post was written by NHC Philadelphia member Emily Kehoe.
Emily serves as a Patient Advocate for Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Ambulatory Health Services: Health Center 3.