Bridging the Doctor-Patient Gap

Hello. My name is Kevin Kauffman. Your contribution to this fundraising campaign will be paid forward many times over through the in-person Patient Advocacy practice and global subscription-based Patient Advocacy website that it will help to launch.

I have been a health activist and patient advocacy "hobbyist" for over five years now, founding and running the Atrial Fibrillation Information Exchange, the largest, fastest growing, and most active support group on Facebook dedicated to cardiac arrhythmias and general heart problems. Using my innate resourcefulness, problem-solving abilities, and the knowledge that I gained through my own health struggles (see my medical autobiography, A Life on Hold: Crossing Paths with Atrial Fibrillation), I have helped countless others worldwide to understand their conditions and the options available to them, to seek out the practitioners and facilities best suited for treating them, and guide them through the difficult decisions they face.

Now I wish to get certified as a Professional Patient Advocate and open an independent practice to help all those in the local area who:
  --- have difficulty understanding their doctors' explanations or recommendations.
  --- do not know how or are afraid to express their concerns to their doctors.
  --- have doctors who do not have the time to answer their questions.
  --- have multiple doctors who do not consult with each other to coordinate treatments.
  --- do not know how to find the right doctor or treatment for their individual case.
  --- are interested in exploring alternative therapies that their doctors are not allowed to discuss.
  --- have trouble choosing which of the available options is right for them.

Independent professional Patient Advocacy is a new and rapidly growing field built upon the premise that "the patient does not know what he doesn't know". The patient may, therefore, not be able to accurately assess the care and treatment that they receive and is often unaware of what questions to ask to get the information that they need to make the best decisions about their healthcare.

A professional Patient Advocate will review the patient's history and medical records and take the time that their doctors may not have to explain to the them how the body works and how their conditions affect it. The Patient Advocate will clarify the pros and cons of the treatments that the patient currently uses and identify other treatment options (including the alternative options) that may be available to them.

The Patient Advocate will guide the patient through the often difficult decision-making processes that accompany many health conditions and will assist the them in finding the best providers for the treatments they select. The Patient Advocate may also act as liason between the patient and his doctor and will help facilitate communication between the patient's various doctors, making sure all prescribed treatments work well with each other.

So, after years of helping sufferers of various conditions all around the world by phone, email, text, and chat -- and with some of them actually offering to pay for me to accompany them to their next doctor appointment and some of my own doctors asking me whether I am a physician or healthcare professional of some sort -- I have learned that Patient Advocacy is not just something that I am very good at, but it is something that I find very fulfilling, as well. I truly believe that Professional Patient Advocacy is the career path for me.

I find it unsettling to hear so many stories of patients not been given a choice of treatment options or a say in what treatment they receive, or patients who have not been warned of risks before they are prescribed certain treatments. So many are unaware that they are allowed to voice their concerns or even "fire" their doctors, if need be. And the number of cases I see misdiagnosed due to laziness or prejudice is appalling. All of these problems are almost entirely avoidable, and I am excited to be part of the solution.

To prepare for this career change, I will complete the necessary coursework for certification through the Professional Patient Advocacy Institute (and eventually one or several other similar programs offered by other institutions), I will join the leading national organization for patient advocates (the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates), and I will attend applicable conferences, seminars, and workshops to earn Continuing Education credits. Finally, when board certification becomes available later this year through the Patient Advocate Certification Board, I will get my certification.

Accomplishing these things will take money, though. And while I would prefer to fund this venture 100% by myself, the cost of battling my own health conditions in recent years has wiped out all of my considerable savings, equity, and investments and left me with over $90,000 of additional debt on top of my existing debt, forcing me to seek alternative funding. Meeting the goal of this campaign will cover the above mentioned coursework, membership, conferences, and testing. Funds raised in excess will go towards the insurance, licensing, and permits that I will need to actually operate the business. And anything above and beyond that will help with website design and hosting, advertising, and other costs.

Remember, your support of this venture will be paid forward, benfitting many in need of assistance. And having one more certified independent Patient Advocate will push Patient Advocacy that much closer to official recognition by the medical insurance providers and government healthcare agencies. Any amount you wish to contribute to my campaign now will make a huge impact on many lives and will be greatly appreciated. Please also share this campaign with everyone that you know, especially anyone who is presently dealing with health issues who can relate to this mission.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, or leave them in the comments below, and I will address them as quickly as possible.  Thanks for your support!