A+J Patient Advocacy
Rebeka Acosta
Title: Executive Director
Email: hello@heart4advocacy.
Phone Number: (702) 425-1503
Website: https://heart4advocacy.com
Program Description: A+J Patient Advocacy is bettering healthcare in Nevada by empowering young people to make smart healthcare decisions, collaborating with the community to change the health landscape, and advocating for improvement in government policies.
Services Offered: A+J Patient Advocacy provides services in three areas:
1. Patient and Family Support
2. Community Outreach
3. Public Policy Advocacy
Patient and Family Support
We work with children, teenagers, and young adults* to navigate the health system and provide resources for their specific needs. Services are customized to the individual, but may include:
● Navigating a diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
● Understanding your medication (what is it, why do you take it, how does it work)
● Understanding your care team and how they fit into the larger healthcare system
● Building comfort and confidence in talking about your body with trusted support people
● Preparing for a doctor’s visit and/or procedure
● What to expect during a doctor’s visit and/or procedure
● Support in building a relationship with your doctors
● Assistance in curating the proper care team
● Reviewing medical records and translating medical jargon
● Real-world practice of skills learned like scheduling appointments, requesting medication refills, and more
● Creating a medical notebook (printed or digital versions)
● Guiding the transfer of knowledge from guardian(s) to patient during the transition from pediatric to adult medicine
● Support during school meetings (IEPs, 504s, Health Plans)
● Referrals to community services as needed (housing, food, employment, transit, etc.)
*A young adult is generally between the ages of 18-26 years old.
Community Outreach
A+J Patient Advocacy prides itself on building trustworthy and mutually beneficial relationships in the health community. We offer services to various health-related organizations across Nevada, such as workshops, resources at health events, presentations at conferences, and more.
Public Policy Advocacy
Through partnerships with Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition, Nevada Youth Mental Health Coalition, Act4Kids Nevada, and Patients for Patient Safety US, A+J Patient Advocacy champions policies that push the health system forward. Current priorities include a building a free-standing, comprehensive children’s hospital in Southern Nevada;
Target Populations: Children, School Aged-Children, Teens, Young Adults, LGBTQ+, Disabled, African American Populations, Hispanic/Latinx Populations, Asian Populations, Pacific Islander Populations, Native American Populations, Low Income, Immigrants, Refugees, Undocumented,
Research/Focal Areas: Pediatric health, adolescent health, young adult health, healthcare transition, pediatric mental health, adolescent mental health, young adult mental health, health advocacy, patient advocacy, healthcare access, health equity, health literacy,