The Center for Patient Partnerships
Welcome to the Center for Patient Partnerships
News
- June 2008: Center Launches Consumer Health Advocacy Certificate Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A new 12-credit Certificate in Consumer Health Advocacy is now available for UW graduate students and professional students from the schools of medicine & public health, pharmacy, nursing, and law.
- June 2008: Link of the Month: SurvivorshipAtoZ.org was launched last month by one of our favorite advocacy experts, David Landay. The site provides comprehensive information about "living the new normal" after a serious diagnosis. We applaud David and his colleagues for their tireless efforts making complex information accessible and easy to understand. We also look forward to future collaboration!
- May 2008: Meg Gaines and Center featured in cover story of Dane County's 50 Plus Lifestyles Magazine
- May 2008: The Gargoyle, the alumni magazine of the UW Law School, publishes feature story about the Center: Helping Today's Patients, Training Tomorrow's Professionals
- April 15, 2008: Center featured on WTMJ4 Milwaukee newscast: Cancer Coaches
- February 21, 2008: Meg Gaines interviewed on NPR/New York: The Bryant Park Report
- January 2008: Ten Strategies to build partnerships with patients, authored by Center staff, appears in the Wisconsin Medical Journal.
- December 2007: Center featured on WKOW Channel 27 Madison:Buyer Beware: Not All Health Insurance Created Equally (December 4, 2007) and the follow-up segment: 27 News Troubleshooter Update: Madison Man Gets More Money From Health Insurance Company (December 31, 2007)
- View our 2000-2006 Progress Report
What is the Center for Patient Partnerships?
The Center for Patient Partnerships trains professional and graduate-level students from a diversity of disciplines in the art and science of patient advocacy and patient-centered care. The Center's model is unique; no other university offers this type of training. An interdisciplinary center of the University of Wisconsin Schools of Law, Medicine and Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy, the Center advances the Wisconsin Idea as students assist patients and families struggling with life-threatening and serious chronic illnesses as they navigate the health care system and address related legal, financial, and psychosocial issues. Almost three-fourths of our clients and four-fifths of our students are from Wisconsin; we do serve clients nationwide.
Four key areas of activity advance our mission: health advocacy, education, collaboration with local and national organizations, and innovation to advance health systems change.
What is patient advocacy?
Patient advocates work alongside patients to help them make informed medical decisions, get the health care they need, and build strong partnerships with providers. Advocates also provide support to assist patients as they deal with medical, legal or financial uncertainty. Advocacy on behalf of patients has been practiced in some form by nurses, social workers, physicians, lawyers and others throughout the history of medicine.
Why is patient advocacy relevant today?
The complexity of health care often overwhelms people, especially when they are diagnosed with a serious illness. Patient advocates provide support, vital information and help obtaining access to individual care when it is needed the most. Advocates also provide assistance with related legal, financial, and employment issues that surround their illness.
How can you get involved?
We seek partners for collaboration projects and innovative solutions to the health care crisis. Learn more about our efforts to collaborate and innovate, or contact us with your own ideas. Or, you can also contribute financially to the Center's work.
How can I access services?
Graduate and professional students provide free, supervised advocacy services, regardless of ability to pay. Those who wish are welcome to make a contribution to the Center. If you or a loved one or friend has a life threatening or serious chronic illness who would benefit from patient advocacy services, please complete our Application for Services and/or contact our office.
Want to Help?
As the Center for Patient Partnerships grows, you can help educate, advocate and innovate to make health systems more consumer-centered. Though we do not charge for our advocacy services, we welcome contributions to the Center. Please join the mission by contributing!
