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TueAug 19

National Patient Advocacy Day – August 19, 2025

National Patient Advocacy Day is observed on August 19, and this year is no different. There is no secret that the healthcare system can get complicated and downright confusing. Hospitals and healthcare personnel are overburdened and tasked with performing jobs that inevitably take time away from patient care. Here is where patient advocates come in to offer assistance. National Patient Advocacy Day was established to raise awareness about the services available to healthcare facilities, particularly those related to Medicaid enrollment. Additionally, it assists patients with healthcare coverage issues, such as filling out eligibility and enrollment documents.

History of National Patient Advocacy Day

Patient advocacy is a field of medicine that focuses on advocating for patients, survivors, and carers. A patient advocate can be a person or group concerned about a certain set of conditions. In the United States, patient advocacy began in the 1950s as a result of advances in cancer research and treatment. However, patients and their families raised ethical concerns about the diagnostics, treatment techniques, and clinical research undertaken in the early days of cancer treatment. In this medico-legal and ethical debate, the practice of advocacy arose to support and represent patients.

As the Patient Rights movement grew in the United States, the 1970s were a pivotal period for patient activism. The National Welfare Rights Organization’s (N.W.R.O.) materials for a patient’s bill of rights, for example, impacted many other organizations and writings at the time, including the Joint Commission’s hospital accreditation requirements in 1970 as well as the American Hospital Association’s Patient Bill of Rights in 1972.

Individual patient advocacy gained traction in the early 2000s in the United States and ten years later in Australia. The profession is now regarded as a mainstream alternative for improving hospital and community-based healthcare results. DECO Recovery Management established this day in 2019 to raise awareness about the services available to healthcare facilities, particularly about Medicaid eligibility.

National Patient Advocacy Day timeline

1950s
Origin of Patient Advocacy

Patient advocacy begins in the United States as a result of advances in cancer research and treatment.

1970s
Patient Rights Movement

The Patient Rights movement grows in the U.S.

1972
American Hospital Association Patients of Rights

The National Welfare Rights Organization (N.W.R.O.) writes the American Hospital Association's Patient Bill of Rights.

1993
National Patient Advocacy Day

DECO Recovery Management establishes the National Patient Advocacy day.

National Patient Advocacy Day FAQs

What does healthcare advocacy entail?

It entails tasks such as guaranteeing access to care, navigating the system, organizing resources, addressing health inequities, influencing health policy, and bringing about system change.

What are the challenges of patient advocacy?

Insufficient time to contact patients, a lack of support, restricted communication, and lack of enthusiasm.

What are the crucial aspects of patient advocacy?

Human dignity must be preserved, patient equality must be promoted, and suffering must be alleviated.

How to Observe National Patient Advocacy Day

  1. Participate in a virtual event

    Many groups will organize advocacy virtual events on this day. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn about patient advocacy, advocacy training, and the role of patient advocates by attending one of the many events.

  2. Conduct your own research

    Look into the available patient advocacy services. Look into what factors you may need to consider when seeking a patient advocate service for Medicaid eligibility.

  3. Make contact with a patient advocacy group

    The patient advocacy foundation can help you or someone you know who needs an advocate. You can also visit their website to learn more about their services and possibilities.

5 Interesting Facts About Patient Advocates

  1. 75,066 patient advocates in America

    In the United States, there are now 75,066 patient advocates working.

  2. Most patient advocates are female

    Women make up 82.5% of all patient advocates.

  3. Average age of patient advocates

    An employed Patient Advocate is on average 40 years old.

  4. Pharmaceutical Industry

    Patient advocates are paid the most in the pharmaceutical industry.

  5. 7% of advocates are L.G.B.T.

    Only 7% of all patient advocates identify as L.G.B.T.

Why National Patient Advocacy Day is Important

  1. Keeps patients medically informed

    Patient advocacy allows people to have a voice and be more informed about their medical treatment. It keeps them up to date on the treatment and procedures they are receiving. It makes it easier to deal with medical emergencies.

  2. Helps reduce patient anxiety

    It enhances therapy effectiveness and health outcomes. Listening, especially when accompanied by proactive communication, can help patients feel less anxious.

  3. It protects patients' rights

    Many patients are unable to advocate for themselves because they are overwhelmed by medical jargon and services. Patient advocates assist them in making decisions and remind them of their patent rights.

National Patient Advocacy Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 August 19 Tuesday
2026 August 19 Wednesday
2027 August 19 Thursday
2028 August 19 Saturday
2029 August 19 Sunday