We're Celebrating Our 6th Anniversary...
By Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA®, Founder Beacon Patient Solutions LLC
I am excited to be celebrating 6 years in business. My business name was chosen to reflect it’s growth and prominently highlight the goal for my advocacy work with every client - arriving at a SOLUTION.
I seek SOLUTIONS when a client is facing:
a denied insurance claim
an early discharge from the hospital or another facility
challenges communicating with their healthcare team
an inaccurate or surprise medical bill
an overwhelming amount of information about a recent diagnosis
the need for coordination of care
You can help others learn more about the importance and impact of working with an independent board certified patient advocate and the solutions I work toward, simply by passing our name along to friends, family members, and colleagues.
Navigating the complexities of the healthcare system can be stressful and time consuming.
Contact me so that we can help ease the burden.
I am fortunate to have achieved so much since founding Beacon Patient Solutions in February 2018. I became a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) in the first cohort of exam participants in March 2018, re-certified in December 2021, am a member of the Alliance for Professional Healthcare Advocates, have served on committees for the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACBoard), am a founding member of CHCAO (Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations), joined the Board of Directors of the National Association of Health Care Advocacy (NAHAC) in March 2021 and just completed my time on the NAHAC Board and as Vice President. I have served on the Steering Committee of the Massachusetts Health Care Advocates (MAHCA) since 2019, NAHAC’s first Regional Group.
To further my knowledge and work with older adults, I earned my Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA) credential in April 2023! I had the privilege of speaking at five conferences during 2023, including the Healthcare Advocate Summit, where I was unexpectedly honored with an Independent Patient Advocate of the Year award.
I am grateful to the numerous clients who have hired me to assist them with their needs navigating an aspect of the healthcare system. I have also developed and large and extensive professional network and am so appreciative of the organizations who have invited me to speak to members of their staff and community.
As my practice has evolved, I have developed a specialty in assisting the aging population who do not have the support of adult children and family members – solo agers. In the fall of 2021 I launched the Navigating Solo Network: The Path to Dynamic Solo Aging Starts Here™ which includes a national website, a growing network of members, and an online clearinghouse featuring resources specifically for Solo Agers.
As clients sought experienced and knowledgeable resources and professionals whose work includes focus on solo agers, I convened Pros Working with Solo Agers in the summer of 2021. The national multi-disciplinary group of professionals includes trailblazers and thought leaders in solo aging, and is open to professionals whose work has a specific focus on Solo Agers. The group meets monthly and tackles issues facing solo agers.
I am also grateful to have been quoted in articles for many publications including Next Avenue, MarketWatch, AARP, WebMD, Real Simple, Forbes, and to have been included on a story about surprise medical bills on Boston’s NBC10. It has also been wonderful to be interviewed on podcasts and local television programs.
Over time I have expanded my service offerings and now offer a wide variety of ways for clients to benefit from my guidance and assistance.
There are many ways healthcare consumers can benefit from working with an independent patient advocate. Here are some ways I help:
Consultations:
I often work with clients over weeks or months to help them reach their healthcare advocacy goals. Sometimes, the opportunity to ask questions or talk through a healthcare situation is the only immediate service a prospective client may initially need. To assist, I offer the opportunity to schedule a one hour phone consultation to meet that need. Email me to find out more.
Additional Services Include: research regarding a recent diagnosis, care coordination, preparation for an upcoming medical appointment, compiling and filing insurance/Medicare appeals, understanding medical bills, and insurance coverage and more!
Creating Your Customized Healthcare Advocacy PLAN:
We’ll work with you to identify, prepare, compile, and organize your healthcare advocacy goals, priorities, needs and organize all your important documents (PLAN). Creating your PLAN will give you the peace of mind to know that your important paperwork, support system, and other resources are in place.
Your healthcare advocacy PLAN is a dynamic document that will reflect your healthcare concerns, values, goals, and wishes and can be changed or updated at any time.
You can get started organizing your information by purchasing our E-book: My Health Information.
Advance Care Planning Guidance:
Assessing what you want and do not want for your Care:
Every Day
In An Emergency
Guidance identifying and designating a Health Care Proxy in your support network
Review of important documents to have in place
Tools to have conversations about your interests with important members of your support network
Guidance for updating and storing your plans
Community Education Talks: I have offered over 120 talks hosted by over thirty community and professional organizations in Massachusetts, New England, and Nationwide since 2018!
Visit my Speaking Engagements web page to book a talk for your group, organization, or community.
Are You or Do You Know a Solo Ager?
The SOLO AGERS Advocacy Initiative has been created by Ailene Gerhardt, Independent Board Certified Patient Advocate, to meet the support and planning needs of Solo Agers.
Initiative members work one-on-one with Ailene to identify and organize healthcare concerns, carefully craft their support team, and learn how to navigate the opportunities and challenges of solo aging.
Learn More about the Initiative: SOLO AGERS Advocacy Initiative Web Page, Facebook Group or Email Ailene.