Comprehensive Care Management and Coordination

Best healthcare advocate, patient advocate or medical advocate for solo seniors in Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona

You can make it, but it's easier if

You don't have to do it alone.

--Betty Ford

Comprehensive Care Management and Coordination

Who Is It For:

This level of service is intended for both proactive people with routine or low-urgency healthcare needs and for patients and/or caregivers who are dealing with significant medical needs.

Proactively establishing a relationship with an advocate, when things are calm and your healthcare is routine, can prove beneficial if (or when) a more serious or complex health situation arises.

Experienced advocates can serve as a sounding board for questions or concerns that may arise and can help guide you through options or point you to valuable resources and referrals. You will likely receive faster and more efficient healthcare if/when you encounter a bump in the road.

Trying to recall a long list of medications or every detail of your past medical history, when the unexpected arises and your not at your best, can be difficult. Your advocate will be able to communicate accurate and well organized information to providers when it's needed most and this is likely to help you achieve faster diagnoses and treatment.

Lower intensity or proactive services are best for, but not limited to people who:

need some guidance and direction, but not intensive support and oversight.
are working w/ multiple specialists and are seeking continuity of care
need assistance establishing a relationship or communicating with a physician or specialist
would like to be more prepared for a serious or emergent healthcare situation
are caregivers who want to feel supported and more confident in making decisions for their loved one
would like to learn how to optimize their health
are health conscious and proactive in their healthcare

Higher intensity services are best for, but not limited to people who:

have received or anticipate a new complex, serious, or life threatening diagnosis
are managing one or more acute or chronic diseases
feel that medical providers are not listening
report significant and bothersome symptoms of acute or chronic illness
have been struggling to get an accurate diagnosis
are experiencing, or are worried about, a reduction in quality of life
feel exhausted or overwhelmed trying to juggle life and a medical illness
don’t want to feel alone and lost while navigating the medical system
have challenges tracking, sharing, or understanding key healthcare data and information

How we can help:

Below are some of the things that we do to assist clients who need ongoing advocacy services. You may not need all of the services listed, and there are other services that you may need which aren’t specifically listed here. All of the services are individualized with this list being just an example of what you can expect.

Records and Research

Family and personal health history intake and assessment
Medical record acquisition & review
Obtain in-depth health history
- Medical, surgical medication, and nutrition history
Medication inventory, review, research, & education
Medical record information management and organization
Healthcare provider searches
Research and acquire medical and non-medical resources (ie: home health)
Diagnostic and treatment option research and education

Planning, Decision Making, Education, and Support

Assist with complex decision making through research, education, and support
Disease/condition specific health education
Resource and referral acquisition support
Medical appointment preparation
Medical appointment attendance (in-person, by video, by phone)
Appointment scheduling assistance and coordination
Basic health insurance education and decision support (advanced support available by referral)
Make insurance coverage inquiries and provide authorization support. (referrals available for complex insurance issues)
Disease/condition research and education
Individualized health education

Consultation, Communication, and Coordination

In-person consultations and well-checks as requested
Phone consultations and regular email communication any time during regular business hours.
Verbal (in-person, video, phone) and written (letters, emails, faxes) communication with primary care providers, medical specialists, and other care team members
Administrative coordination: sending, receiving, filing forms, authorizations, and letters
Facilitate advance directive conversations, decision making, and paperwork.
Write and respond to clinical emails
Facilitate advanced directive conversations, decision making, and paperwork
Outpatient care coordination
Patient placement coordination (assisted living, hospice, rehab, SNF, group home)
End of life planning, support, and resources
Preventative health & wellness planning

Complex or Crisis Care Management*

Medical Review Session
ER or hospital inpatient complex decision support (serious condition, diagnosis, and treatment options, end of life)
Communication & coordination with:
- ER or hospital physicians and advanced practice professionals (PA, NP, DNP)
- ER or inpatient hospital nursing staff
- ER or inpatient hospital case management and discharge planners
Multidisciplinary care coordination/care conferences
Family care conference coordination & communication related to ER visit and/or hospitalization
Assistance with hospital discharge planning: Clarify and reinforce hospital discharge instructions
Patient placement coordination from hospital to assisted living, hospice, rehab, SNF, group home, etc.
Complex resource acquisition & coordination (Multiple home care providers - non-medical, medical, hospice, DME, home safety evals, etc.)
Holistic post-hospitalization resource support expanding beyond hospital coordinated home health (pet care, home care, bills, transportation, household maintenance, etc.)
End of life planning, support, and resources as needed

*Additional retainer may be required depending on complexity of care.

Outcomes:

Peace of mind knowing you have an experienced healthcare navigator available to you at a moment's notice.
Reduce frustration, uncertainty, fear, stress doubt, exhaustion, and guilt
An uncluttered path to faster healthcare decisions
Experience more seamless care and communication among members of your healthcare team
Feel confident understanding all options and making important healthcare decisions and choices
Know what questions to ask providers and/or feel comfortable asking questions during appointments.
Organize and share health records to get accurate diagnoses, faster treatment, and better outcome
Gain confidence in ability to handle healthcare situations and make important decisions
Reduce risk for medical errors
Have more time to focus on healing and doing what you enjoy

Professional Fees:

Initial retainer ranging from $600 - $1800 depending on scope and duration of work determined during the initial triage consultation. This typically covers 5 - 12 hours of work.
Hourly billing will be deducted from retainer with monthly statements detailing completed work.
Individualized flat-fee monthly service or project packages may be available, upon request.

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*Disclaimer: Vital Link, LLC dba Vital Link Healthcare Advocates does not provide legal, medical, accounting or financial advisory services. If you need assistance with any such services, please seek help from the appropriate licensed professional(s). Read full disclaimer.