What is the primary purpose of patient advocacy in healthcare?

The primary purpose of patient advocacy in healthcare is to ensure that patients' voices are heard and their rights are represented. Patient advocates work to empower individuals by promoting their needs, preferences, and values within the healthcare system. Advocacy fosters a collaborative relationship between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that patients are active participants in their own care decisions. This approach not only enhances the quality of care but also helps to address any barriers that patients may encounter, such as healthcare disparities or inadequate information.

While reducing healthcare costs, informing providers about clinical findings, and increasing patient education resources are important aspects of healthcare, they do not capture the core function of patient advocacy. Advocacy is fundamentally about giving patients the support and representation they need to navigate their healthcare experiences effectively and to ensure that their rights are upheld.