Our Story
I founded Nurse Advocate Partners in 2013 with a mission to help people make informed decisions about their healthcare. When my Dad was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer, his doctor wanted to give him a colostomy, which would affect both his and my mother’s quality of life. My Dad had already had major heart issues requiring bypass surgery and stents as well as a stroke. When I told the doctor that I would like to talk to my Dad about it, but I didn’t think that was an appropriate surgery for him to have in the state of health he was in, he said he had already talked to my Dad and he agreed to the surgery. I went in to talk to my Dad and he said that the doctor said he needed to have this done, so he assumed he had to have the surgery. I found another GI doctor and after discussing my concerns with him, we all agreed on a less invasive procedure that my Dad could have that would allow him to come home and he could continue to eat. My Dad lived for eating!
After my Dad passed away, I started to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t been there to look into alternative options. My Dad’s generation didn’t question doctors; they just did what the doctor said. This is when I decided to become a patient advocate. I had started the business in Massachusetts, where I lived at the time, and expanded it to Beaufort County in SC when we decided to move to Bluffton. We are currently open in both locations.
Many people think that they can advocate for themselves or their loved ones, but if you don’t know what questions to ask or don’t understand the medical jargon, then you really can’t. It’s best to have a medical professional with you to make sure you heard correctly and understand what the doctor is telling you and someone who can continue to explain it to you after you leave the office. Call us so we can help! 508-930-2738