Lending our voice to those who are vulnerable or underserved is at the heart of our mission at All About You Healthcare Advocates, and we achieve this by providing a broad range of healthcare services to our community members. Importantly, we do not have a one-size-fits-all mantra – quite the opposite. We provide personalized assistance to our clients based on their individual needs.

Case Study: Wrap-Around Advocacy
Our founder Tanesha Owens, a nurse practitioner and patient advocate, has been actively helping a family navigate their healthcare needs. Mr. and Mrs. T reached out to Tanesha around the time Mrs. T was discharged from a rehabilitation facility. Tanesha helped them set up home care services including:
• Nursing
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy

Unfortunately, like we often witness with our health system, the initial agency failed to follow through, leaving Mrs. T without these essential services for two weeks until Tanesha intervened.

Mrs. T underwent a valve repair procedure and needed assistance with selecting a suitable rehabilitation facility that met her preferences, such as a private room, quality food services, and top-notch facilities. Doing the research to identify a suitable facility is not easy, especially for an older couple. “My role is to provide the family with detailed information and ratings to help them make an informed decision,” according to Tanesha, who helped them with the process.

Mr. T says he owes a lot to Tanesha. “My wife needed significant medical care and I couldn’t imagine being able to manage the logistics,” he said, from both the care and insurance point of view.
The family often reaches out to Tanesha to share concerns regarding the quality-of-care Mrs. T receives. When Mrs. T was scheduled to be discharged from her second rehabilitation facility, Tanesha coordinated with the social worker to ensure a smooth discharge process.

Additionally, Tanesha helped Mr. T, who is the primary caregiver, contact his insurance company to confirm benefits, such as free transportation for Mrs. T’s return home. While the rehabilitation center informed Mr. T that insurance would not cover transportation, Tanesha intervened and confirmed that it was covered.

According to Mr. T, Tanesha helped them avail of services that they did not know were covered by insurance, such as transportation to, and from, medical appointments. “[Tanesha] visited us often during the hardest times and spoke on our behalf and helped us schedule appointments, figure out insurance coverage, and other things” he said.

Miscommunication or lack of information around insurance coverage is a very common issue. “I always encourage my clients to obtain a copy of their insurance benefits and verify them with their insurance agent. Seniors on Medicare and fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable, often receiving bills they should not be responsible for and being misinformed about coverage for services or durable medical equipment,” according to Tanesha.

Tanesha continues to work with the family as they navigate Mrs. T recovery and rehabilitation.
If you or a loved one are in need of an advocate to support your medical needs, please reach out to All About You Healthcare Advocates.