Recognizing the Power of Your Voice: Terms, Words, and Concepts that all patients should know!

Sandra L. Washington is an Independent Board-Certified Patient Advocate. In addition, she is a managing partner of Medi-Helpz LLC, an independent patient advocacy company, and the founder of C.H.L.M.S. Medi-Helpz Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sandra encourages patient empowerment by educating patients on the importance of using their voices to ensure the best health outcomes and access to optimal healthcare services.

Sandra has a simple mantra regarding designing and developing sustainable healthcare policies and programs that address the healthcare inequities and inequalities in the current United States healthcare system. Speak Up! Speak Loud! and Speak Often!

Understanding that patients need to feel comfortable using the power of their voice, they must feel empowered and engaged in their healthcare. Sandra opines that the one step that will serve underserved and marginalized patients well is patient education. In this book, she uses her personal experience to educate readers on words, terms, and concepts that all patients should know as they navigate the challenges within the healthcare system.

The debate regarding the topic of healthcare inequity is not new. Each time a Pandemic arises, the subject turns to the lack of healthcare resources for those living in minority communities. It is evident that a vested voice is needed to adequately address the problem of healthcare inequities and offer solutions that ensure that the discussion regarding healthcare inequities in minority communities moves from talk to action.Sandra L. Washington has that vested voice. Her unquenchable thirst for "righting the wrongs" of healthcare inequity began over 25 years ago, after her son's birth, who was born with a heart condition that went unnoticed for the first three years of his life. She also experienced the harmful inequities in healthcare as she witnessed the challenges her very own sister faced while dealing with a rare heart condition. Wanting and determined to find solutions that will mitigate or even eliminate the inequities the black community faces. The exacerbation of the lack of care Sandra's sister received from various clinicians, all of whom presumed a diagnosis without performing any testing. They instead based her diagnosis on her race, gender, and age, ultimately resulting in her death. Wrought with a broken heart from her son and sister's experiences, Sandra has written this book to shed light on the unspoken truths about healthcare inequities for black people, particularly older people. Sandra admits that she's "tired" of seeing older black people victimized by a healthcare system that minimizes the importance of testing for diagnosis. She has gotten way too comfortable issuing diagnoses based solely on demographics. Sandra has a well-rounded perspective on the inequities of healthcare for older black people as she has spent over 30 years in the healthcare field, professionally and through her academic studies; she holds a Master's of Public Policy Administration from Northwestern University. As a woman, a minority, a COVID-19 survivor, an "aged" individual, and a healthcare professional, Sandra has decided to use her distinctive voice to bring forth the need for significant change to bring equality in healthcare. When she's not researching, writing, or speaking to others about the problems within the healthcare system and how to overcome those issues, Sandra spends her downtime listening to gospel music, spending time with her loving spouse, and encouraging her adult son. She also enjoys sharing her wisdom and encouragement with her family and friends. Sandra L. Washington was born and raised in New Jersey and now lives in Illinois with her husband.