Patient Advocate
Are you looking for Mental Health Support in Florida?
How can a patient advocate help me?
Understanding your care
Sometimes it feels like doctors speak a different language, having a patient advocate at your appointment means you have a someone there to break it down.
A patient advocate is on your time. Even after leaving the office, you can continue asking questions.
You patient advocate can also organize your medical records, fill your pill boxes and give you Healthy Thinking patient education that is made just for you!
Mental Health Support as a Family
When someone struggles with their mental health, the whole family feels the effects. A patient advocate, unlike most doctors or therapists, has the flexibility to visit with the whole family, in your home, and see your needs in person.
When appropriate a patient advocate can help the family secure any possible safety concerns in the home and set up an space perfect for practicing healthy coping.
Experience in Emergencies
In Florida, the law known as the “Baker Act” allows people in a mental health crisis get the care they need, but for some people the process can bring up feelings of fear and helplessness. A patient advocate can explain what happens every step of the way.
A patient advocate can help you choose the most comfortable path to Baker Act care whether you are worried about avoiding handcuffs, police cars or ambulances.
Support During Hospital Stays
A patient advocate who knows your story and treatment history can connect the pieces from different hospitals, doctors or therapists and communicate that information for you, so you can focus on recovering instead of finding your care team.
A patient advocate can serve as a contact for the hospital’s doctors, and communicate any information you choose to your support network; taking the stress off of your close family or friends.
Advocating in Addiction
The term ‘co-occurring disorders” refers to mental illness and substance abuse happening at the same time. Many individuals “self-medicate” before getting mental health care and end up needing treatment for addiction also. A patient advocate can help the patient and family decide on the right treatment and find community resources such as support groups and recovery meetings.
In Sickness and In Health
A patient advocate’s job isn’t done just because your feeling better. The flexibility of a patient advocate means you still have support on your path to wellness.
Meet our Florida Patient Advocate
Kelly Grogan, RN
I am a Registered Nurse who has worked in emergency mental health for over six years, in different mental health hospital units specializing in children, teens, seniors, co-occuring disorders and more. I have seen so many patients and families struggling to get the support and care they need that I know the need for mental health patient advocates is very high in Florida right now, even if many people haven’t learned about them yet. I do everything I can to help the patients and families I care for in mental health hospitals but I often found myself wishing I could do more. I am so excited about that I have this opportunity to help patients in ways I never could before.
Contact Us
Click below for our contact page! Let us know a little bit about you and we will follow up to schedule a free phone or video call!
Healthy Thinking patient advocates currently do not accept insurance.
Low income families may be eligible for special pricing supported by donations.