1 At The Hospital

What Is An Advocate?
Going To The Hospital
Information To Have Ready
Gathering And Sharing Information
Information Privacy
The Effective Advocate
Learning To Observe
Handling Yourself With Doctors And Nurses
Doctor Communication Issues
Hospital Dos And Don’ts
Repeat Hospital Stays And Medicare Limits
Returning To The Hospital

2 Before Leaving The Hospital: Questions To Ask Doctors And Nurses

Bedside Care Training
Requesting Exit Examinations
Hospital Discharge And Medicine Resumption At Home
Medical Data Gathering And Tracking
Standard Information Gathering
Free Samples Of Medical Disposables
Home Healthcare Bedside Devices
Providers Of Home Healthcare Equipment, Services And Supplies
Specialty Pharmacies
Retail Drug Stores
Mobile X-ray And Diagnostic Testing Companies
Nurse Registries

3 Before Leaving The Hospital: Arranging Visiting Nurses And Therapists

Medicare Coverage For Nurse Visits
Additional Home Health Benefit Covered Services
Skilled Nursing Visits
Physical Therapy Visits To The Home
Getting Therapy Organized
Affordable Exercise Equipment
Additional Activities
Preventing Foot Drop

4 Before Leaving The Hospital: Arranging Home Healthcare Equipment And Supplies

Durable Medical Equipment Defined By Medicare
Home Healthcare Durable Medical Equipment Companies
Home Healthcare Company Tips
Equipment Coverage Basics
Medicare Coverage For Durable Equipment Under $150
List Of Medicare Sometimes/Never Covered Equipment
Home Healthcare Beds
Bed Rails
Mattresses
Wedge Pillow
Patient Lifts
Lift Slings
Wheelchairs
Wheelchair Accessories
Wheelchair Seat Cushion
Wheelchair Safety Accessories
Easy To Use Clothing

5 Extra Equipment At Home

Wheelchair Ramps
Fire Safety
Electric Power Outages
Household Appliances And Tools
Flashlights And Batteries

6 Staying Organized At Home

Keeping Tasks Organized
Managing Visiting Medical Providers
Visiting Nurse Appointment Tips
Arranging Additional Nurse Visits
Visiting Physical Therapy Tips
Mobile X-ray Visit Tips
Laboratory Test Tips
Making Time To Exercise And Relax

7 Oxygen Equipment And Respiratory Issues

Oxygen Equipment And Supplies
Oxygen Bottle Tips
Common Mistakes With Oxygen Bottles
Oxygen Concentrator Basics
Oxygen Concentrator Tips
Humidity Issues
Mist Machine Basics
Room Humidifiers
Air Purifiers

8 Suction Machines And Equipment Troubleshooting

Suction Machines
Sterile Saline
Suction Machine Troubleshooting

9 Antibiotics And Infection Prevention

Antibiotics
Problems With Antibiotics
Antibiotics At Home
Minor Digestive Problem Remedies
Starting An Antibiotic
Alternating Antibiotics
Chronic, Repeating Infections And Antibiotics
Antibiotic Measures To Keep Infections Away
Lung Infection Treatment With A Nebulizer
Bladder Infection Prevention
General Cleanliness And Infection Prevention Measures

10 Tube Feeding Issues And Tips

Tube Feeding Basics
Tube Feeding Equipment And Formula Coverage
Tube Feeding Clog Prevention And Clearing Tips
Feeding Tube Replacement
Feeding Pump Issues
Feeding Bag Issues
Y Port Tube Feeding Adapter
Tube Feeding Equipment Troubleshooting

11 Original Medicare, Private Insurance And Billing Issues

Medicare And Insurance Basics
Medicare Or Insurance, Who Pays First?
Medicare Providers
The Advance Beneficiary Notice
The Sequence Of A Claim Submission
Following Up On Provider Claim Submissions
Issues With Provider Bills Sent To Your Loved One
Additional Common Billing Issues
Dealing With An Insurance Company
Phone Conversation Tips

Acknowledgements

In Appreciation Of Nurses

Appendices

1. Hospital Information List
   (Includes Doctor Information List)
2. Home Healthcare Contact Information List
3. Medicine Chart
4. Excerpts From Music/Stroke Study
5. Y Port Tube Feeding Adapter Ordering
6. U.S. Government Health Information Websites
7. Medicare Information Websites
8. NLM And NIH Websites
9. Additional Research/Healthcare Websites
10. Advocate Best Practices
11. The Patient Advocate’s Handbook List Of Questions

Index