Last updated on Jul 25, 2024

Here's how you can connect and cultivate relationships with policymakers and legislators in patient advocacy.

Patient advocacy is a vital skill that involves representing and fighting for the rights, needs, and interests of patients within the healthcare system. Connecting with policymakers and legislators is a crucial aspect of this role, as it can lead to significant changes in healthcare policies and regulations that directly affect patient care. By establishing strong relationships with these key figures, you can ensure that the voices of patients are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. It's about bridging the gap between patient experiences and the legislative process to foster a healthcare system that is more responsive to patient needs.

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1 Know Your Stuff

Before you engage with policymakers and legislators, it's critical that you thoroughly understand the issues you're advocating for. This means not only having a deep grasp of the patient concerns and how policies affect them but also being aware of the current legislative landscape. You should be well-versed in relevant laws, regulations, and the political climate. Your ability to communicate effectively hinges on your knowledge; when you can articulate the nuances of an issue, you're more likely to be taken seriously and can become a go-to resource for these decision-makers.

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Yustina Ndambakuwa

--Emergency Services Nurse ,NHS England, London, Basildon, Preston, Wigan, Lincoln, KingsLynn, York. Lecturer,Tutor, Mentor, Trainer, Registered Manager (Anchor Trust ), Researcher, London, UK.
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Before engaging with policy makers advocates the health system needs to be on the same page. Knowledge of local and government policies, protocols and procedures has to be harmonious. There are a lot of fragments and differences of most protocols and policies from hospital to hospital, nursing home to nursing home. Despite the country using NICE guidelines for some of the above, the differences are still staggering when you are on the ground. Advocating for patients via the legislation becomes confusing. In some parts of the country the rules and guidelines are so different one needs to do a lot of research prior any advocacy work. With the little resources, both human and material, the government needs to add resources for advocacy work.

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2 Build Connections

Networking is key in patient advocacy. Start by identifying the policymakers and legislators who have influence over healthcare issues. Attend public meetings, hearings, and community events where you can introduce yourself and your cause. Make your initial interactions count by being succinct and memorable. Offer to be a resource on patient perspectives and share compelling stories that highlight the human impact of healthcare policies. Remember, genuine relationships are built over time through trust and mutual respect, so be patient and persistent.

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3 Communicate Clearly

When communicating with legislators and policymakers, clarity and conciseness are paramount. Prepare a clear message about what you advocate for and why it matters. Practice delivering this message in a way that is both compelling and easy to understand. Avoid jargon and technical language that might confuse or alienate. Instead, focus on how the issue affects real people. Personal stories can be particularly effective in illustrating the need for policy change, so gather testimonials from those impacted by the issue.

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4 Follow Up

After your initial contact with a policymaker or legislator, follow up with a thank-you message that reiterates your key points and offers further assistance. Keep the lines of communication open by providing updates on patient issues and inviting them to relevant events. Consistent follow-up demonstrates your commitment to the cause and helps to keep the issue on their radar. Be respectful of their time but don't be afraid to gently remind them of ongoing concerns and the need for their support.

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5 Leverage Media

Utilizing media can amplify your advocacy efforts. Write opinion pieces for local newspapers, participate in interviews, or use social media to raise awareness about patient issues. When policymakers and legislators see a topic gaining public attention, they're more likely to engage with it. Media coverage can also attract the attention of other advocates and organizations, potentially leading to partnerships and a stronger collective voice.

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Yustina Ndambakuwa

--Emergency Services Nurse ,NHS England, London, Basildon, Preston, Wigan, Lincoln, KingsLynn, York. Lecturer,Tutor, Mentor, Trainer, Registered Manager (Anchor Trust ), Researcher, London, UK.
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I have noted that during the Covid pandemic, media coverage was always on point. Despite patients being unable to see their Gp or go to the local Emergency departments, they had and absorbed more health education than any other time period. Post pandemic, patients see a dichotomy between the healthcare pre and post pandemic. To bridge this gap there needs to be vigorous and meaningful media coverage from the bottom up. Patients feel neglected and have lost hope. Many patients turn up in Emergency Departments when it is rather too late. It feels like they feel neglected and are helpless. With unnecessary inadequacies in the staffing levels, which are superficial at times they have nowhere to turn to. The media needs to be used to educate .

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6 Engage Community

Finally, engaging the community is a powerful way to show policymakers and legislators that there's a collective call for change. Organize events, create petitions, or start campaigns that allow others to express their support for your advocacy efforts. When decision-makers see that a significant portion of their constituency is concerned about an issue, they're more likely to take action. Plus, a mobilized community can provide additional resources and support for your advocacy work.

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Yustina Ndambakuwa

--Emergency Services Nurse ,NHS England, London, Basildon, Preston, Wigan, Lincoln, KingsLynn, York. Lecturer,Tutor, Mentor, Trainer, Registered Manager (Anchor Trust ), Researcher, London, UK.
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One thing that I believe could assist in patient advocacy is community involvement . I have been reading patient concerns in a neighborhood group, about a variety of health issues from the grassroots to the central government. These have been comments, concerns and solutions. This shows that people see the problems and are able to come up with solutions but no one is advocating for them. If problems and issues from the local the GP are compiled from such platforms and the GP takes them seriously, patient advocacy can be made easier on both sides. That is from the caregivers and the patients themselves, including the advocates who have nothing to do with patient care.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can connect and cultivate relationships with policymakers and legislators in patient advocacy.

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Know Your Stuff

2 Build Connections

3 Communicate Clearly

4 Follow Up

5 Leverage Media

6 Engage Community

7 Here’s what else to consider

Patient Advocacy

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Here's how you can connect and cultivate relationships with policymakers and legislators in patient advocacy.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Know Your Stuff

2 Build Connections

3 Communicate Clearly

4 Follow Up

5 Leverage Media

6 Engage Community

7 Here’s what else to consider

Patient Advocacy

Rate this article

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