Understood Care
Advocates are trained professionals who help you understand your options, make informed decisions, and communicate clearly with your care team. They support you through appointments, referrals, tests, and treatments so you feel prepared and confident. Advocates can also connect you with resources for daily needs such as transportation, medications, meals, and caregiver support.
Advocates focus on real life barriers that can slow care, such as confusing paperwork, missed messages between clinics, or challenges with time, cost, and travel. With the right support, you can move through the system more smoothly and stay on track with your care plan.
Patient advocates make sure your questions are heard and your preferences are respected. They help with appointment planning, insurance questions, bills you do not understand, and decisions about treatments. Some advocates work in hospitals and clinics. Others are independent and can support you across many providers.
Navigators guide you through each step of screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow up. They identify barriers and help you overcome them, such as arranging transportation, finding financial assistance, or coordinating appointments. Many cancer centers and large health systems offer navigator programs because this kind of help improves the experience of care and often helps people start and continue needed treatment.
Clinical social workers provide counseling, crisis support, and practical planning. They help with coping, advance care planning, family communication, and links to community benefits such as housing, nutrition programs, or caregiver respite.
Hospital ombudsman teams listen to concerns, help resolve problems, and serve as a neutral bridge between you and the healthcare organization. They address issues like communication breakdowns, delays, or service quality.
Peer supporters are trained helpers who have lived through similar health challenges. They offer encouragement, share practical strategies, and connect you with community support groups. Peer support can be a powerful complement to clinical care.
Care coordinators organize details among multiple doctors and services. They make sure information is shared, follow ups are scheduled, and instructions are clear. Case managers often focus on safe transitions, such as leaving the hospital and getting connected to home care or needed equipment.
Understood Care brings these supports together in one place. We match you with a dedicated advocate and nurse, coordinate with your clinicians, social workers, navigators, and case managers, and keep everyone on the same page. We help you prepare for visits, organize records, review medicines, check insurance and benefits, arrange transportation, connect you with peer support, and follow through on referrals. Services are delivered by phone or video so you can get help from home.
Sign up at https://app.understoodcare.com or call (646) 904-4027
Consider an advocate if you are juggling many appointments, managing a new diagnosis, feeling unsure about decisions, or caring for a loved one while balancing other responsibilities. People who live far from specialty centers or have limited time, transportation, or internet access may benefit especially from navigation and coordination.
Advocates do not replace your doctors or nurses. They complement clinical care by helping you understand choices, remember questions, and follow through on the plan. With your permission, they can share updates with your clinicians so everyone stays aligned. Good advocacy is team based, respectful, and focused on your goals.
You decide who is part of your care team and what information can be shared. You can give written permission for an advocate, family member, or friend to receive updates or help coordinate care. You can also change or withdraw that permission at any time. If you have a health care proxy or other advance directive, your advocate can help you keep those documents current and available.
Personalized help for your care journey
If you are ready for advocacy and support, start with a quick intake so we understand your top concerns. We will match you with an Understood Care advocate who knows your condition and community. Your advocate will help you prepare for visits, organize questions, coordinate with your clinicians, and connect you with community resources and peer groups that fit your needs and values.
You can learn more about specific services on these pages
See the References section for full URLs.
High authority and peer reviewed sources
This article is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk with your clinician about your personal medical needs.
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