Hello, I’m Eric Ottesen, and live in Bend, OR.

I’ve worked as a healthcare professional as both a nurse and paramedic for 25 years. I have come to realize a gap in healthcare, and that is patient care advocacy outside the walls of the hospital. I have been looking for sometime a way to get myself out of bedside nursing and utilize another skill.…[Read more]

Ali- love that you have that legal perspective…. It’s going to make for interesting discussions as we move forward learning about advocacy and the business of advocacy.

You’ll have some important points to make throughout the program, I’m sure!

See you in a few hours….

Juantwonette (or do you prefer Toni? 🙂 )

THIS (that you wrote) is one of the most important things we know and talk about in independent advocate: “I know starting my independent advocacy business would allow me the freedom to help individuals without having to bend to my current corporate constraints.”

When this comes to us from someone who…[Read more]

Nancy – great overview. (Including – where did you live in Tennessee? I used to live outside Knoxville 🙂 )

You have waaay more experience than most and honestly, I think you’ll find that once you begin to understand the “pieces” it will begin to fall into place for you.

One question you asked – what order? There is no set order, because…[Read more]

Hey Mechelle! I just sent you a text w/ the name/number of my insurance broker colleague/friend. I trust her so much that I had her set up my own Medigap plan!

Hello all:

My name is Ali Kinchla, and I live in Beverly, Massachusetts, which is just a bit north of Boston. I am an attorney currently practicing in workers’ compensation and disability benefits. Like many of you, I have had the unfortunate (but, in some ways, privileged) experience of attempting to maneuver through the healthcare and medical…[Read more]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Juantwonette Ford and I have worked in healthcare and insurance for the last 20 years. While my job title was never formally a Patient Advocate I found a lot of my duties and responsibilities, no matter what position I held, fell under the category of advocacy. I find joy in knowing that I have helped patients along…[Read more]

Hi Nancy!
Congratulations on getting started!!! I just sent a connection request on LinkedIn and would love to connect with you soon!

Hi Everybody! Glad to be here.

I’m Nancy Keller and I recently returned to Arizona after living in Tennessee for 34 years. There have been many boxes to check off before I felt ready to launch my business in PA, and now is the time! I haven’t worked in 6 years and have minor trepidations about returning to a “hectic” schedule but reinventing…[Read more]

Hi Elaine,
I travel (frequently) and have found Amazon Pharmacy to be a fantastic option! I have had my meds shipped to Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee, and Arizona without any issue. I just reviewed the patient rights & responsibilities which identify Medicaid as a potential payer of services. I would check out this option for the student as well…[Read more]

Thanks Nicole, I’ll reach out later today to set up a time to chat! Thanks so much for reaching out.

Kay – I hear your passion and excitement in your typed words… impressive! And – I can see that your passion and excitement also drive your decision-making. You’ll find that helps you over the next 100 days – and beyond 🙂

You have a story – and I’ll ask you to share it (in a nutshell) during our call Tuesday – we’ll all have that opportunity.…[Read more]

Hi Lisa (and greetings from this (former) Upstate NYer – from near Syracuse, and also near Buffalo – I think you are near Albany?)

Like with Anne, above, I’ll be curious about how well our 100 Days program enhances / supports / makes use of / supplements your Assumption U program. APHA’s intent, through it’s membership and Academy, is always…[Read more]

Welcome Anne! What an interesting background you have in organ donation – perhaps a good niche for your advocacy? Very interesting (and no surprise) that despite your many years of working in healthcare, you felt like you didn’t understand the system when you were confronted with your father’s challenges. I had the same experience with my dad,…[Read more]