Course Information

Patient Advocate Certificate Program | What is a Patient Advocate? |Course Information | Patient Advocate Certification Board | Meet the Designer | Your Presenters | Required Textbooks | Quality Matters

Course Information

The Cleveland State University Patient Advocate Certificate Program exactly tracks the required skills and abilities specified in the PACB documents with confidence that, proficiency in these areas directly translates to optimal job and examination readiness.

A brief description of each of the eight (8) courses follows. While each course can be taken alone, all courses in combination, prepare you to do the comprehensive and satisfying work of a Patient Advocate, optimally with a Board Certified Patient Advocate designation.

Course #1 – Scope of Practice and Transparency

Presenter: Jennifer Halloran

Required Textbooks:

The Health Advocates Start & Grow Your Own Practice Handbook by Trisha Torrey

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers the “basics” of a business practice in Patient Advocacy.

• clarifying your purpose and allegiance
• defining practice limitations and legal requirements
• identifying and specifying your specialty and services
• contracting with your patient / client
• satisfying referral obligations
• handling confidentiality issues

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 1 – Scope of Practice and Transparency is approved for 7.5 CEs and 2.5 Ethics CEs (total of 10 CEs), by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #2 – Empowerment, Autonomy, Rights, and Equity

Presenter: Dena Feingold, BCPA

Required Textbooks:

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers the legal obligations to support the activities for and rights of your patient / client.

• implementing fair treatment standards
• using a patient / client centered approach
• providing educational and representational help
• completing and storing documents
• interacting with designated medical surrogates
• decision-making by your patient / client

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 2 – Empowerment, Autonomy, Rights and Equity is approved for 7.5 CEs and 2.5 Ethics CEs (total of 10 CEs), by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #3 – Communication and Interpersonal Relationships

Presenter: Dr. Meg Toukonen

Required Textbooks:

The Health Advocates Start & Grow Your Own Practice Handbook by Trisha Torrey

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers interactions with your patient / client and the medical community.

• employing listening and feedback techniques
• integrating family and friends into the planning process
• providing timely documentation
• accommodating patient / client wants, needs, gifts and limitations
• managing conflict
• seeking / accommodating unique patient / client perspectives

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 3 – Communication and Interpersonal Relationships is approved for 10.0 CEs, by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #4 – Healthcare Access, Finance, and Management

Presenter: Karen Vogel, MPH, MA

Required Textbooks:

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers the financial aspects of healthcare and navigation within the healthcare community.

• appreciating how the “system” works
• preparing your patient / client and providing navigational support
• traversing the “ins and outs” of public and private health insurance
• achieving basic medical billing literacy
• accessing community health resources
• piloting the grievance process

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 4 – Healthcare Access Finance and Management is approved for 10.0 CEs, by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #5 – Medical Knowledge and Healthcare System

Presenter: Jennifer Halloran

Required Textbooks:

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers basic medical terminology, care coordination, safety and resource research.

• knowing sources for and information about illness and disease
• recognizing the basics of healthcare facilities and provider groups
• coordinating care providers, facilities, services and activities
• working with the healthcare community to ensure quality care
• conducting patient / client specific research
• utilizing and recommending patient / client safety strategies

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 5 – Medical Knowledge and the Healthcare System is approved for 10.0 CEs, by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #6 – Professionalism, Professional Development, and Practice

Presenter: Jennifer Halloran

Required Textbooks:

The Health Advocates Start & Grow Your Own Practice Handbook by Trisha Torrey

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers positive, ongoing patient relationship maintenance and the preservation of business coupled with professional competency.

• maintaining continuous patient / client boundary vigilance
• identifying warning signs of possible practice and patient / client problems
• achieving required business standards
• realizing ongoing practice-related education and legal requirements
• keeping abreast of changes
• reaching out for assistance

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 6 – Professionalism, Professional Development and Practice is approved for 10.0 CEs, by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #7 – Ethical Standards

Presenter: Anne Llewellyn, MS, BHSA, RN, CCM, CRRN, CMGT-BC, FCM

Required Textbooks:

Improving Healthcare Through Advocacy: A Guide for the Health and Helping Professions by Bruce Jansson

This course covers the ethical standards required of a private Patient Advocate.

• understanding your role as a Patient Advocate and how to inform your patient / client
• communicating openly while protecting your patient / client
• fostering patient / client autonomy
• disclosing and abiding by payment restrictions and avoiding conflicts of interest
• preventing discriminatory practices
• satisfying lifelong professional learning obligations

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 7 – Ethical Standards is approved for 10.0 Ethics Hours by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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Course #8 – Exam Prep

Presenter: Anne Llewellyn, MS, BHSA, RN, CCM, CRRN, CMGT-BC, FCM

No required textbooks

This course covers the requirements to take the Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) examination as well as providing you with practice sessions plus examples of test questions, strategies and time-controlled responses.

• reviewing background requirements for the Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) examination
• enlisting tactical and emotional test taking tools
• experiencing timed practice exercises
• answering sample test questions
• applying test-taking coping strategies
• using the credential following successful exam outcome

The Patient Advocate Certificate Program, Course 8 – Exam Prep is approved for 10.0 CEs by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

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We invite you to join us for one, two or all the courses offered through the Cleveland State University Patient Advocate Certificate Program! Patient Advocacy is a new field and our services are much needed, especially when provided by an educated and supportive professional like YOU!

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