Taking Patient Voices to Capitol Hill
Taking Patient Voices to Capitol Hill
On September 21 and 22, I will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to participate in HPNA on the Hill with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.
This trip is an opportunity to join nurses and other hospice and palliative care professionals in conversations with policymakers about the needs of patients, families, caregivers, and the professionals who care for them.
Why This Matters
Too many people learn about hospice and palliative care only after a crisis has occurred or when their choices have become limited.
Palliative care can help manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and support informed decision-making throughout a serious illness. Hospice provides comfort, dignity, and support near the end of life. Yet many individuals and families still do not understand these services, cannot access them early enough, or do not know what questions to ask.
These gaps are not just healthcare problems. They affect real people trying to make difficult decisions during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Bringing Experience Into the Conversation
As a registered nurse, board-certified patient advocate, and founder of Right Time Care Partners, I have seen how difficult it can be for patients and families to understand their options and make their voices heard.
I have also seen what can happen when important conversations begin earlier, care teams work together, and people receive the information they need to make choices that reflect their goals and values.
That is the perspective I am taking with me to Capitol Hill.
I hope to help reinforce the importance of:
Improving access to hospice and palliative care
Beginning serious illness and advance care planning conversations earlier
Supporting the healthcare professionals who provide this care
Helping patients and families understand their options
Protecting each person’s right to make informed healthcare decisions
Ensuring patient goals and preferences remain central to care
Advocacy Is Part of Patient Care
This trip is not about politics. It is about people.
When healthcare policies are discussed, the voices of patients, families, caregivers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals must be part of the conversation.
I am honored to represent Right Time Care Partners and to stand alongside other professionals committed to improving care for people living with serious illness.
I look forward to sharing more about the experience and the conversations taking place on Capitol Hill when I return.
Healthcare is complicated. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
