When you’re sick and hurting, it’s nice to know there is someone looking out for your best interests while receiving medical care.

At Andalusia Regional Hospital, that person is now Stephanie Bulger, the hospital’s new patient advocate.

A licensed social worker, Bulger has worked at ARH as a discharge planner and case management worker for the last five years. Two weeks ago, she assumed the newly created position.

“It’s always been the goal at ARH for everyone to be a patient’s advocate, but the goal with the new position is to make it a more complete process,” Bulger said. “Our goal is the make life better for our patients.”

Bulger said it is her job to advocate on the behalf of all patients.

“And that means for whatever they need,” she said. “I will see the patient on admission and make sure they have all they need to transition from the home into the hospital. I’ll follow up throughout their stay and then help them transition from the hospital back to home.”

Patient advocacy is an area of specialization in health care concerned with patient education about the use of health plans and how to obtain needed care.

A patient advocate can also assist the health care provider and support staff with potential issues and communication. The patient advocate is responsible for maintaining communication with the patient and health care provider to help ensure patient understanding of procedures, Bulger said. By reducing fear and increasing patient compliance, this can result in a higher incidence of successful treatment, she said.

“The most important thing about being a patient advocate is to make the patient aware they have rights,” she said. “If they feel like those rights have been violated or we need to work as a team to make their hospital stay better, that’s what I’m here for – to help. And that can be for anything from making sure the ice and water is on time in the room to helping get prescription medicine assistance after leaving the hospital.”

Bulger said she will meet with all admitted patients during their hospital stay.

“I feel like a lot of times the patient’s voice is not heard,” she said. “A lot of people feel they are left out of their care plan because the doctor’s and nurses are so busy taking care of everyone. I feel like I can make a difference and make the patient feel like they’re not just a number on a chart. That they have a name and a voice.”

Bulger is a 1996 graduate of Florala High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Troy University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling from Faulkner University. She and her husband Shannon have two children – Hannah and Kaitlyn.