As you know I am a Patient Advocate that has worked for 39 years without charging the patient, the hospital or the insurance companies any money for the service I provide. I love what I do and have always felt that I am doing this under Gods direction. This year, Ive had two people insist on paying me for my service to them, I admit this year has been monetarily hard for me, so After explaining to both that I normally do not charge, I accepted that I would be paid; the first patient...I did extensive daily advocating and patient care for 5 months. When he was well and he was able to care for himself again... He decided he COULD have done all that I did himself and decided I did not deserve to be paid. Now... Please understand Patient Advocates that do charge can earn between $200.00-$400.00 per hour/case. Next case That wanted to pay me for my services was in my home. She was a 4-day/24-hour case, which included meals, Two trips to the emergency room and a trip out-side to smoke every hour around the clock. This patient was unable to walk unassisted. It also included Advocate calls to Doctors, Police!, caseworkers, in-home aides, x-room mates that had assaulted this patient, pictures for police and emergency room physicians. I had met this patient thru advocating to get her out of a rental agreement that was not in her best interest the previous month. On the 4th day her daughter picked her up at my home after I had procured all of her medications, police reports and she was able to once again leave the state. I was paid $250.00 by check... Then I was charged $90.00 in bank fees when her daughter stopped payment on the check. This was done the last week of September. Yesterday I received this text from the daughter... This is Jennys daughter Im going to be as nice as I can but when I dropped everything and took my mom back to Michigan I did not know u were going to charge her 250 dollars to stay for 3 days and she wasnt any better off I told Leslie the day after the check was canceled that we canceled it we were under the understanding u were doing what u were doing cuz u were a friend I feel the only reason u had her come over when u did is cuz she was going to get paid and u wanted her money my mom feels like a fool cuz she was thanking u for taking her in and all u were had was dollar signs in your eyes Leslie was told that the check was canceled so if u cashed it after that that is your fault if u make 300 dollars an hour like u told my sister then u should be just fine..if u contact my mom again I will either block u or change her number..so this is done and over with it is time to move on.... Yup... I am so stunned by what people think... I have no words to express the audacity of these people/patients thinking it is ok to offer to pay for services then act as if I did anything wrong by accepting their offer.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:55:25 +0000