In this compelling interview, Kayla Thompson-Riviere, RN and Board Certified Patient Advocate, shares her journey from burned-out ICU nurse to the first and only independent advocate on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Confronted with the confusion surrounding the term "patient advocate"—often associated with hospital employees or free services—Kayla rebranded herself as a personal medical strategist. The new title not only clarifies her role but also subtly signals a paid, professional service. With deep roots in critical care, Kayla explains how her strategic, pattern-based approach to advocacy helps clients who are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or dismissed by their medical teams. Her Medical Roadmap service includes a 90-minute intake session, a written action plan, and a follow-up call—all for a flat fee—bringing much-needed clarity and predictability to a broken, opaque healthcare system.

Kayla also speaks candidly about the personal heartbreak that pushed her toward advocacy: the traumatic loss of her daughter due to medical mismanagement during pregnancy. That experience became the fire behind Heard for Life, her advocacy practice whose acronym stands for Health Empowerment through Advocacy for Patients’ Rights and Dignities. Rather than focus solely on “done-for-you” services, Kayla leans into a “done-with-you” model that empowers blue-collar, DIY-minded patients to take action with strategic support. From offering flexible follow-up plans to partnering with billing advocates, she has created a scalable, transparent, and highly personalized care model that resonates with clients and fills a major gap in healthcare.

***Resources & Links Mentioned
www.heardforlife.com
www.heardforlife.com/guide

***Advocacy Services & Frameworks Mentioned
Personal Medical Strategist – Kayla’s professional title reflecting a paid, strategic approach to navigating complex care
Medical Roadmap – A flat-fee service that includes a 90-minute Zoom intake session, written action plan, and follow-up evaluation
Flat Monthly Support – Optional ongoing strategy sessions with additional hourly services available as needed
Flex-Up Hands-On Support – A scalable option for clients who need more direct involvement with tasks like insurance calls
Heard for Life – Stands for Health Empowerment through Advocacy for Patients’ Rights and Dignities

***Free Tools & Downloads
Doctor Appointment Strategy Guide – A free two-part resource available at www.heardforlife.com/guide that includes a downloadable PDF and a bonus strategy call with Kayla

***Business & Marketing Insights
Kayla transitioned away from the term “independent patient advocate” due to public confusion and opted for “personal medical strategist” to better communicate her role and pricing
Her core client base includes people who are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or feeling abandoned by the system—what she calls “medical misfits”
Her model is designed to empower rather than enable, and her transparent flat-fee structure builds trust while offering flexibility based on each client’s needs

In this episode of Patient Advocacy Now, we sit down with Teri Frykenberg, a nationally recognized leader in patient advocacy and patient safety. With a background as an ICU nurse, a three-time author, a newspaper columnist, and a serial entrepreneur in the patient advocacy space, Teri brings a wealth of experience and insight into the evolving challenges of healthcare.

Teri shares her personal journey into patient advocacy, which began with a near-tragic medical emergency involving her own family. She explains how her frustration with hospital bureaucracy and mismanagement led her to leave nursing and start her own advocacy company, despite having no formal business background. She also addresses the growing demand for advocacy services through her training programs at NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com

If you're a nurse or doctor considering a shift into patient advocacy, or if you're interested in how to navigate the healthcare system more effectively, this episode is packed with invaluable insights from one of the foremost experts in the field.

In this thought-provoking episode of Patient Advocacy Now, we sit down with Nancy Ruffner, a trailblazer in patient advocacy and a passionate advocate for solo agers. Nancy shares her inspiring journey from social work to private patient advocacy, reflecting on how personal caregiving experiences shaped her mission to guide others through the complex healthcare system.

With a sharp focus on aging without traditional caregivers, Nancy unpacks critical issues like medical missteps, legal planning, financial readiness, and the need for stronger community support. Along the way, she offers insights into the evolving role of technology, the challenges of navigating elder care, and the creative solutions that empower solo agers to thrive.

Nancy Ruffner is a leader when it comes to advocating for and teaching about the needs of Solo Agers. As a professional with an intense and in-depth background about the needs of Aging Orphans, Nancy’s work involves incredible ethics and loyalty to her clients. Whether you're facing your own healthcare challenges or seeking to understand the broader implications of solo aging, Nancy’s wisdom and actionable advice make this episode a must-listen.

In this heartfelt episode of Patient Advocacy Now, Dr. Chris Price, a retired cardiologist turned patient advocate, shares his incredible journey of resilience, service, and transformation. Known for his calm demeanor during medical emergencies, Dr. Chris discusses how his health struggles, including autoimmune challenges, inspired him to deepen his commitment to patient advocacy.

Drawing from over two decades in cardiology, he offers a unique perspective on empowering patients, navigating the complexities of informed consent, and understanding one’s own body. Dr. Chris also highlights the systemic issues in healthcare, the critical role of advocacy, and his mission to make support more accessible to all.

After experiencing a health issue leading to his early retirement, Dr. Chris became even more interested in patient advocacy. He started his own business to continue this passion and serve others in Washington State and beyond. He received his MD from Creighton University School of Medicine and his BS from Santa Clara University. With warmth and wisdom, this episode sheds light on humanity in healthcare and how advocates like Dr. Chris bring clarity in times of crisis.

Please join us and listen to this expansive interview with Dr. Chris and how his experiences led to his knowledge and contribution to the Independent Patient Advocacy profession.

In this powerful episode of Patient Advocacy Now, Lisa Berry Blackstock, founder of Soul Sherpa, shares her remarkable journey from estate administrator to trailblazing patient advocate. Lisa opens up about her personal battle with misdiagnosis and debilitating chronic pain, culminating in life-changing brain surgery that transformed her perspective on healthcare.

Drawing from her legal and medical advocacy expertise, she discusses the importance of life care planning, navigating insurance battles, and advocating for patients dismissed by the system.

As a graduate of Stanford University in 1982, Lisa uses her knowledge of the business and political factors that shape healthcare. Her attention to detail is unsurpassed, allowing her to often discover errors made in haste or overlooked by other professionals. The result is appropriate quality healthcare, satisfaction, and financial savings for her clients.

Lisa's holistic approach connects the dots between healthcare, legal, and financial planning, ensuring clients receive comprehensive and compassionate support. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or professional, this episode offers invaluable insights into navigating healthcare's complexities with resilience and purpose.

In this enlightening episode of Patient Advocacy Now, we explore the vital intersection of healthcare, legal expertise, and patient advocacy with Barbara Gaynor, a seasoned registered nurse and Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC). With over 25 years of experience spanning various medical disciplines, Barbara offers a unique perspective on how LNCs can bridge gaps in patient care and legal processes.

From advocating for vulnerable patients in hospitals to ensuring comprehensive post-discharge support, Barbara's passion for communication and patient rights shines through. She shares compelling stories of navigating complex medical systems, the crucial role of advanced directives, and her work supporting clients through personal and systemic healthcare challenges.

As a Board-Certified Patient Advocate, she guides clients through the complexities of the healthcare system, empowering them to handle issues as they arise. Her services include accompanying clients to medical visits, developing questions for appointments, arranging reliable transportation, and organizing essential healthcare records.

She also talks about an interesting and positive result while handling a Greater National Advocates connection with a blind person who needed significant patient advocacy and supportive care before, during, and after open heart surgery. It’s a great story about an amazing compilation.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, caregiver, or patient, this episode delivers invaluable insights into patient-centered advocacy and the evolving field of healthcare support.

Christy Snodgrass is a registered nurse, turned healthcare reformer and patient advocate. While working in the hospital she witnessed firsthand how the complexity and lack of transparency in healthcare placed a huge burden on healthcare workers and patients. She has since built a social media platform of over 800,000 followers where she sheds light on these issues and provides the public with resources to help them navigate our difficult healthcare system.

Christy represents a new generation of advocates, and her platform has already gone a long way toward exposing the need for advocacy. This brings us to another reason we’re featuring Christy. The Healthcare Advocate Summit in Las Vegas is quickly approaching, and one of the benefits of the summit is the chance to learn about the profession, even if you’re not yet an advocate. This season 2 finale episode provides a different perspective of the profession from the standpoint of someone who uses social media to promote Independent Patient Advocacy for the benefit of the entire profession.

Rachel Westlake was a teenage kid with long, curly, red hair when she was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma at the age of 15. During more than a year of experimental treatment protocols, Rachel began to understand her own mortality, something none of her peers had any concerns about whatsoever. She beat the cancer and learned the importance of self-advocacy along the way. In 2015, she received another cancer diagnosis while living in a “healthcare desert.” Using her acquired self-advocacy skills, Rachel called on her old oncology team in NY. She got them on board, underwent a stem cell transplant, and beat cancer for the second time.

Today, Rachel is a dedicated health care advocate focused on creating compassionate, personalized, and inclusive care systems. As a self-advocacy expert and educator, she assists organizations in implementing patient-centered strategies to enhance care outcomes and foster collaborative cultures. She’s also an instrumental force behind CHCAO, the Coalition of Healthcare Advocacy Organizations.

Listen in as Rachel walks listeners through her highly personal medical and emotional journey that includes beating cancer twice and confronting the death of her father by suicide. Rachel’s life experiences gave her the courage and strength to identify others who needed help, and she was inspired to help as many as possible. Rachel discovered the profession of healthcare advocacy and dove in, realizing the impact she could have as a BCPA.

Through Rachel Westlake Consulting, LLC (RWC), she specializes in self-advocacy education, connecting patients, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders. Her background in coalition leadership, startup strategy, product development, and research informs her balanced, partnership-driven approach to addressing patient and healthcare community needs.