”If medicine is to fulfill her great task, then she must enter the political and social life.”
— Dr. Rudolf Virchow, 19th-century German physician
Clinician advocacy is a vital part of the clinician-patient relationship. It is essential to building trust and providing an excellent standard of care, leading to better outcomes. However, advocacy is more than just helping individual patients; it requires addressing broader health care issues at multiple levels.
Clinician Advocacy Defined
Clinician advocacy is the act of using your position as a clinician to promote policies and practices that improve the health and well-being of your patients, colleagues, community, and health care system at large.
Patients. Clinician advocates help patients get the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay. Advocates also help patients navigate the complex health care system to make informed decisions about their care.
Colleagues. Advocates help fellow clinicians improve their quality of care and protect their patients’ rights.
Communities. Advocates work to expand access to care for underserved populations, increase funding for public health programs, and speak out against policies that harm public health.
Health care system. Advocates fight to make the health care system more efficient and responsive to the needs of patients and communities.
The Important Role of Clinician Advocates
How important is the role of clinician advocates? Very, according to the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and American Medical Association (AMA).
In 2002, the ABIM, in its charter on medical professionalism, called for a “commitment to the promotion of public health and preventive medicine, as well as public advocacy on the part of each physician.”
The AMA endorses a similar commitment: Physicians must “advocate for the social, economic, educational, and political changes that ameliorate suffering and contribute to human well-being.”
Clinicians have a unique perspective on the needs of their patients and community. They see firsthand the impact of social determinants of health, health inequities, and lack of access to care.
In addition, clinicians have a high-profile role in their community. Because they are well-respected people in authority, community members view them as trusted sources of information. This vantage point gives them a platform to reach a wide audience and raise awareness about important health issues.
In an open letter to his colleagues, Dr. Randy Pilgrim, Enterprise Chief Medical Officer at SCP Health, summarized the vital need for clinicians to act as advocates:
“As health care challenges deepen, widen, and become more prolonged, we need to exercise our advocacy muscles further and more effectively. In our environment today, a few things have become abundantly clear:
1. If we are to continue our patient-centered mission, we MUST join our voices with others. Our collective voices must be heard. Failing that, observations and solutions will simply fade away, no matter how meritorious they may be. And we will continue to feel downtrodden, wondering if things will ever improve.
2. The system must find a new balance — one that enables patients to get the care they need in a timely manner, one that enables clinicians to deliver care in a stable and workable environment, and one that inspires confidence and satisfaction with our important work.
3. Change won’t happen overnight. It will be a laborious process. It involves reimagining much of what we currently have, even though it’s ‘standard.’ We must become creative, utilizing the advanced tools we have. And we must always ensure that we anchor our work in the fundamental ‘humanness’ of health care.”
Current Clinician Advocacy Concerns
There are many current advocacy concerns that clinicians can focus on. Some of the most pressing include:
Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are the factors that influence public health, such as income, education, housing, and food security. These factors play a major role in determining health outcomes and often disproportionately impact marginalized populations.
Health Equity
Health equity ensures that everyone can achieve their full health potential, regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, or other social determinants of health.
Health Care Access
Access to care is a critical issue for many people in the United States. Millions lack health insurance, and even those with insurance may have difficulty accessing the care they need.
Community Safety
Community safety issues, such as violence, crime, and environmental hazards, can negatively impact public health.
Health Care System Sustainability
The health care system in the United States faces many challenges, including rising costs, an aging population, and a shortage of workers.
Health Care Quality
The quality of care in the United States is uneven. Some people have access to high-quality care, while others do not.
Ways Clinician Advocates Can Help
Clinicians have a powerful voice to advocate for change. If you are a clinician, get involved in advocacy. There are many ways to start, and you can make a real difference in the lives of your patients, colleagues, community, and the health care system.
Here are a few ideas for how you can get involved in advocacy:
Talk to your patients about their needs and concerns. Ask them about the barriers they face in accessing care and see what you can do to help.
Connect your patients with community resources. Many organizations provide support to people in need. Help your patients find these resources by offering referrals or connecting them with social workers or other community-based organizations.
Get involved with your professional organization. Many professional organizations have advocacy arms that promote policies to benefit patients and clinicians. Join your professional organization and volunteer your time to work on advocacy campaigns.
Contact your elected officials. Your elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels make decisions that affect the health of your patients and community. Inform them about your concerns and urge them to support health equity policies, such as expanding Medicaid and Medicare, improving access to care, increasing law enforcement funding, and reforming the health care payment system.
Speak out in public forums. Use your platform as a clinician and respected community member to discuss important health issues. That includes writing letters to the editor, giving presentations at community events, or testifying before legislative bodies.
Clinician advocates act as the voice of the patient, their colleagues, and the community, striving to create a health care system more attuned to the needs of those it serves. Their work is essential to foster a system that genuinely values and meets the needs of every individual.
To again quote Dr. Pilgrim: “Effective advocacy can reduce unnecessary struggles, promote better care, and simplify care delivery. It does not solve all things. But it pushes them in the right direction.”
Don’t stand on the sidelines. Get involved and let your voice be heard. Become a clinician advocate today.
SCP Health actively advocates on behalf on clinicians and patients. Find out more about our advocacy efforts by connecting with a team member.