The medical system is becoming increasingly complex and not very user friendly. Whether it is a small medical need or a medical crisis, a nurse advocate is invaluable. Below are the situations Amy DuBois, RN, BCPA, encounters most often across Tucson and Southern Arizona.
You are caring for an aging parent from a long distance
You get the news by phone, from a parent who did not catch everything the specialist said, or from a sibling who caught a different part of it. You cannot tell over the phone whether this is serious. Flying in for every appointment is not realistic, and flying in only for emergencies means you arrive with no context.
Amy attends the appointment in person here in Southern Arizona, makes sure the right questions get asked, and sends you a written summary afterward — then follows up with a call. You get an account of what actually happened, not a reassurance.
You are overwhelmed and need help understanding the health issues
A serious diagnosis arrives with a vocabulary you have never needed before, delivered at a pace that assumes you already know it. You are also frightened, which is precisely when complex information is hardest to absorb. As one client put it: you are emotionally rocked, making it even more difficult to help yourself or a loved one.
Amy is a Registered Nurse of more than thirty years. She explains the medical side in language you can act on, without either talking down to you or hiding behind terminology.
You leave appointments uncertain what was actually said
Appointments are short. You think of the important question in the car park. You nod along because everyone else in the room seems to understand, and you reconstruct it afterward from half-remembered fragments and an after-visit summary that answers different questions than the ones you have.
Amy comes with you. She ensures the questions are asked and that the plan is understood before you leave the room — and writes it down, so the drive home is not a memory test.
You need help weighing the options your care team presented
You have been given choices — treat aggressively or watch and wait, this procedure or that one, rehabilitation here or at home — and very little help thinking through what each one actually means for the person living it.
Amy works through the options with you: what each involves in practice, what questions are still worth putting to your care team, and what your own priorities imply. She does not make the decision. She makes sure the decision is genuinely yours and genuinely informed.
Patients managing several specialists who are not communicating with one another
Families whose relative has just been admitted to hospital
Older adults living independently whose medication list has grown over years
Seasonal residents splitting care between Arizona and another state
Clients recently discharged and at risk of readmission
Anyone who wants a nurse in the room who works for them, not for the hospital
Not sure whether your situation fits? Call 520-909-8203. The first consultation is free, and Amy will tell you honestly if an advocate is not what you need.
Testimonials
The medical system is becoming increasing complex and not very user friendly. Often you are also emotionally rocked making it even more difficult to help yourself or loved one. Whether it is a small medical need or a medical crisis, a nurse advocate is invaluable. I have found Amy DuBois to be kind, supportive, and effective. She was able to explain the medical side and helped me express my needs and decisions. You do not have to go it alone!
Cathy S.Tucson, AZ
My husband has several complicated medical conditions. It is a lot for us to manage, both for ongoing treatment and the occasional emergency situation. Amy has been an invaluable member of our "team". She has met him at the ER when I was out of town, and has attended medical appointments with him. I always receive a written summary, and she follows up with a call. She is professional, very knowledgeable and kind. We can breathe easier, knowing Amy is there when we need her.
Maureen M.Tucson, AZ
Amy is honestly one the nicest, most helpful people I have ever met. She always takes the time to listen before offering her expertise. Thank you so much Amy!
Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) Granted by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to Amy DuBois, the credential of Board Certified Patient Advocate. Certificate number on file. Date issued: .
