Alicia Dunn* Founder and Principal Consultant MN MPH MH PA Cert I have been a clinical nurse across a broad range of specialities including cardiac medicine and transplant, general surgery, operating theatres and quality assurance. My recent experience and passion is in the care and management of sick infants and children both in hospital and in the community. In Sydney I have worked at St Vincent's Private Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital, Royal North Shore hospital and Sydney Hospital. Independent advocacy is a speciality that allows me to work with patients, their family members and their providers to achieve the best outcomes from medical and hospital care. My independence from any institutional constraints is a great strength. I work for and with patients. For the past few years I have been raising three small children, all of whom have had challenging but successfully managed health problems. My personal experience taught me a great deal about what it can be like to be a disempowered and anxious parent. In 2015 I qualified as a patient advocate and started my own business. I have now returned to work part time in clinical practice and am honoured to join with Dorothy Kamaker at Patient Advocates Australia. I am available for one-on-one support, advice by phone and conference calls and would especially be interested in consultations for matters relating to infants and children and clients with dementia requiring home or residential care. In addition, I can assist clients who seek support applying for NDIS funding or for those with NDIS funding who require specific health related goals/support. I know that the difference in outcomes is very often a matter of advocacy, authority, an understanding of the hospital and health system and excellent communication and collaboration. SYDNEY BASED: Northern Beaches, Inner west and Inner Eastern Suburbs. North Shore. SPECIALITIES: Neonatal and Paediatric management. Dementia, aged and home care. NDIS application/submission reports, disability related healthcare management/support. E: alicia@disabilityhealthsupport.com.au ABN: 41156643760 Sole trader. patient advocate NDIS patient advocate NDIS patient advocate NDIS patient advocate NDIS |
Dorothy Kamaker*
Senior Consultant MN (ICU) PA Cert After 30 plus years as an Intensive Care and Emergency RN, nurse advocate and academic in NSW, I decided to engage with healthcare from a patient perspective by providing support as an independent patient advocate. I am no longer a registered health professional but the knowledge and experience from this background informs my advocacy practice. I do not provide healthcare or healthcare advice of any kind. For decades I worked in both the public and private health sectors in New South Wales (St Vincent's, Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore & Mona Vale Hospitals) and in Europe. For 16 years I worked at the University of Sydney conducting Master's degree courses for Critical Care nurses. In 2000 I went back to work at the bedside in ICU & ED. For many years I worked as a patient advocate on a word-of-mouth "pro bono" basis for friends with success. In 2013 I left clinical practice to study patient advocacy and I established Patient Advocates Australia in 2014. Medical and health based research is very clear that health literacy, age, advocacy, discharge planning and follow up are variables that influence outcomes, readmission and mortality. The delivery of healthcare in NSW has changed in recent decades: you can no longer afford to sit back and hope that you will receive competent, timely, patient centred care. I have established collaborations with specialist medical and carer groups to provide cancer support and Alzheimer's and home care support. In particular, I have worked with specialist doctors and patients across the private and public hospital systems in Australia. I am also retained by lawyers, powers of attorney and enduring guardians for clients who are ageing or whose health is failing and who seek advice/monitoring of home or residential care. By invitation I provide workshops for Mosman and Northern Beaches Councils and other groups, promoting and teaching self advocacy. Skilled support by an independent patient advocate improves outcomes. SYDNEY BASED: Metropolitan Sydney, Northern Beaches/North Shore/CBD/Eastern Suburbs. SPECIALITIES: General health advocacy, Critical & Emergency Care, Aged Care, dealing with new diagnoses, planning and monitoring home based care, planning for independent ageing and end of life care. E: dorothy@disabilityhealthsupport.com.au ABN: 11835990895 Sole trader. |
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