On January 20, Karmanos Cancer Center (KCC) hosted its Patient Advocate Day, bringing together staff and patients in a shared commitment to empowering individuals to take an active role in their care. With enthusiastic participation across the organization, including support from MOQC, the event proved to be both meaningful and impactful.
Patient Advocate Day focused on encouraging thoughtful conversations about advance care planning and helping patients understand the importance of formally designating a trusted decision-maker. By creating a supportive environment for these discussions, the event helped normalize conversations about patient advocacy and future care preferences.
Thanks to the dedication of the KCC’s team and the engagement of the patients and caregivers, the event exceeded expectations. More than 70 patient advocate designation forms and 200 educational forms were distributed to staff members and families. The strong turnout reflected a shared commitment to proactive care planning and clear communication.
Megan Beaudrie, BSN, RN, OCN, Quality Improvement Specialist, shared her enthusiasm about the event’s success: “My ultimate goal was to raise awareness among both staff and patients while ensuring a level of comfort discussing the importance of having a patient advocate form on file. I’m thrilled to have made strides in achieving that, and I’m excited to share that we’ll be hosting another event on March 25!”
MOQC’s participation further strengthened the day’s outreach efforts, reinforcing the importance of quality improvement initiatives that center on patient empowerment and education.
With such an incredible response, Patient Advocate Day demonstrated the power of collaboration and communication in advancing patient-centered care.