Citizens' Veteran Patient Advocacy Corps

Health Services Patient Advocate

Recently, the Director of AHR had a sobering experience when one of his loved-ones, an Iraqi Conflict Veteran, had to enter the VA Medical System for emergency care. And due to circumstances beyond his family's control, he had to enter that care alone, without an advocate.

Yes, the Department of Veteran Affairs has gone to great lengths to provide a level of patient advocacy, but the reality on the ground, and like I said we felt this first hand, is that nothing can replace the benefits and safety of a personal advocate - someone not connected with the bureaucracy of the VA.

This is in no way an indictment on the efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but instead an acceptance of the reality that they cannot be all things to all people all the time, and should not be expected to. And it is our personal responsibility to ensure that we have advocates who can liaison for us, be our eyes and ears, that can talk to our doctors, nurses, and other support staff and then confidentially, with all the time in the world, explain what is happening to us.

Citizens' Veteran Patient Advocacy Corps

AHR has made the commitment to work on a national basis with the VA and private organizations to put together a team of volunteers across this nation who can respond and be on-site to advocate for a veteran when they are alone.

This team of volunteers will come from churches, civic organizations, veterans organization, private corporations, and other centers of care, and will be the first responders who can arrive on the scene when a veteran is alone and engage in rigorous advocacy on behalf of that veteran.

This project will not take form overnight. It requires solid cooperation with the VA Medical Centers as well as the VA at all levels. The Citizens' Veteran Patient Advocacy Corps must align itself with the care givers and be partners in this success. To do otherwise is detrimental to the veteran, the VA effort, and our intended efforts.

Select Your Level of Giving

For us to move this project forward and communication, education, and engage in all the activities required to make this a national reality, we need your help. Please give as your heart leads you. Then, ask how you can be a Citizen Veteran Patient Advocate. Your gift will be followed up with an information packet explaining what you can do to work with us on this vital Veteran's issue and initiative.