Patient advocacy conference aims to transform health care from the inside out

If you recognize the need for safer and more effective patient care in today’s fractured heath-care landscape, Monson resident Teri Frykenberg, RN, invites area readers to attend the inaugural New England Patient Advocacy Conference (NEPAC) on Oct. 14 at Assumption University in Worcester.

Geared toward advocates, caregivers, social workers and medical professionals, the conference will feature expert-led sessions on patient advocacy that will leave you with actionable insights and resources you can use immediately to start transforming patient care.

The conference is being organized by Teri Frykenberg of Monson, a board-certified patient advocate, registered nurse and founder and CEO of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur, a training program for medical professionals who are interested in becoming patient advocates. She is the author of several books on patient advocacy, including “Patient Advocacy Matters,” “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself and Your Loved Ones,” and the forthcoming, “Advocating Well: Strategies for Finding Strength and Understanding in Health Care.”

“This promises to be THE event for advocates, health-care professionals and the general public – anyone who wants to learn more about navigating the modern world of health care,” Frykenberg says. “Experts from around the U.S. will be speaking on such topics as patient safety, reducing medical errors, conflict resolution, the use of AI in appealing denied insurance claims and more specific skills needed to get the best quality, safest health care possible.”

She has chaired and spoken at many patient advocate conferences around the country since becoming a patient advocate in 2011. “I am proud to be able to offer the same to my New England neighbors, where I have returned to make my home,” says Frykenberg, who grew up in western Massachusetts and is a graduate of Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester.

Other topics will include

• Preventing misdiagnosis and how to speak up during the diagnostic process
• Improving communication and coordination among medical specialties
• Supporting patients with chronic pain and complex conditions
• Navigating elder care with dignity and autonomy
• Understanding the role of empathy, music, neuroscience and the law in care
• Launching or growing a private patient advocacy practice

The keynote speakers are pioneers, practitioners and passionate voices working to transform the health-care system from the inside out. Speakers include:

Susan Edgman-Levitan, executive director of Mass General’s Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation and a national leader in patient-centered care;

Sharon A. Kuhn, a holistic health educator, author and advocate with expertise in empathy, resilience and psychological safety;

Dr. Gordon Schiff, quality and safety director for the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care and a nationally recognized expert in diagnostic and medication safety, internal medicine and health policy.

The conference kicks off at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m. Early-bird pricing until Sept. 15 is just $89 for a full day of learning, networking and discovery. Registration includes full access, materials, continental breakfast and lunch.

Sponsorships are also available at bronze, silver and gold levels.

To register or for more information, visit nurseadvocateentrepreneur.com/nepac.