MISSION OF HKS PATIENT ADVOCATES

If you or a loved one has ever experienced a serious illness like cancer or Parkinson’s disease, you know that becoming a “patient” can feel like being propelled into another country, an unfamiliar terrain with a different language (“medicalese”), where time and energy suddenly become very precious.

HKS Patient Advocates is dedicated to guiding patients through the complex world of modern medicine and managed health care. Serving as a patient’s Personal Case Manager and Medical Navigator, HKS Patient Advocates provides what is most needed:

• Prompt Access to medical experts and services
• Research on the latest and best treatment options with ongoing updates
• Advocacy to enhance communication between all members of the health care team
• Education on the effective management of chronic illness based on Practice Guidelines
• Support 24/7 for one year, by phone and email
• Explanation of medical terms and upcoming procedures
• Creation of a comprehensive, integrated medical history
• Preparation of questions to ask your physician(s)
• Guidance on informed consent, medical records, privacy rights, clinical trials, etc.

As Patient Advocates we specialize in complex and chronic diseases including cancer (breast, prostate, ovarian, lung, lymphoma, colorectal, brain, bladder, etc.), neurological (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, CIDP, memory, chronic pain, migraine), gastrointestinal (inflammatory bowel disease, GERD, hepatitis, etc.), auto-immune (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, etc.), pulmonary (asthma, COPD, etc.), metabolic (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, lipidemia, etc.), cardiovascular (e.g., stroke, hypertension, coronary artery disease) diseases, etc.

Our mission is to provide patients and their families with reliable information and beneficial choices concerning physicians and treatment options, so that they truly have “informed consent” which is an understanding of the therapeutic benefits and adverse effects/risks of all treatment options.

HKS Patient Advocates is committed to making health care a more humane experience, one which will respect a patient’s values and needs and strengthen her or his collaboration with physicians and other health care providers.

Our philosophy of unlimited support for one year is based on our experience that patients and their families need ongoing medical information and guidance throughout the course and treatment for a serious illness-especially the first year-regardless of the time of day.

When assuming the role of Medical Navigator, we have found that our patients and their families feel less burdened and fearful. They usually feel they have taken charge of their health care and this empowerment nurtures the “hope” that all of us need during difficult times.

This website is dedicated to our patients and their families and friends, for in their struggle with serious illness they have given us the deep privilege of accompanying them on an intimate part of life’s journey, sharing their passion, humor, tears and courage.

Ken Schueler
Director

“the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient”
- -Sir Francis Weld Peabody, Lecture to Harvard Medical Students, 1927