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Ask an Expert
Area of Expertise: Patient Navigator and Medical Advocate
Elisabeth Schuler Russell
Elisabeth is the founder and President of Patient Navigator LLC, a company dedicated to helping families navigate the journey through illness. The gift of her daughter's survival after a pediatric brain tumor led Elisabeth to her new calling and career as a patient navigator so that she can advocate, educate and solve problems for patients and families. Elisabeth is Vice President of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants. In 2007, she became a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and in 2009, she received CancerGuides® integrative oncology training from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. In her first career, Elisabeth worked 24 years as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State.
- You or a loved one have been recently diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and you need good information quickly.
- You need a quarterback to coordinate and educate you on the moving parts of a major illness – information needs, communication skills, hospital bureaucracy, treatment options, financial, family, insurance, or employment issues.
- You feel overwhelmed by information overload or the administrative burden of managing a complex illness.
- You need help with medical insurance problems.
- You want to know what social services or caregiver resources are available to you.
- You need help managing daily life and your responsibilities during a time of illness.
- You want to learn more about an integrative approach to your illness and treatment.
- You want not only a medical mentor, coach and personal advocate but also a companion to share the progress and setbacks of your journey.
Sample Questions:
- My insurance company is denying coverage for a treatment I need. Can you help me?
- My doctor told me to start thinking about clinical trials. I don't even know where to start. Can you research the right ones for me?
- I live alone and have no caregiver support. Who can help me during my treatments?
- The hospital is trying to make me pay a bill that Medicare said I do not owe.
- I need help applying for my disability payments. There are too many forms.
- My brother with a chronic illness lives out-of-state. He won't get help. What can I do?
- I think the doctors have misdiagnosed my mother and are not giving her proper care.
- My aunt has cancer in a nursing home and I'm the sole caregiver, but I can't manage her affairs because I work full-time. I need help.
- We were too overwhelmed to file our insurance claims and now we are behind and out-of-pocket. What can you do?
- My mentally disabled adult son needs to move out of my home. Where can he go?
- How important is good nutrition during cancer treatment?
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The information provided on this website is not intended to be a substitute for or replace medical, legal or financial advice.
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