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Clients rely on their advisor to reach their financial goals, yet few seek the same level of personalized, professional service when it comes to making healthcare decisions. A health advisor fills that gap.
The market uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has clients worried not only about their investments, but also about their family’s health. COVID-19 put the modern healthcare system in the spotlight. Hospitals running low on masks and other personal protective equipment struggled to restock, forcing some to improvise with homemade masks and gloves. Phrases like “social distancing” and “stay-at-home order” became part of our daily lexicon, constant reminders that we are not only responsible for our own health, but also for helping to keep others healthy.
A flood of coronavirus-related media coverage and government-issued safety guidelines drew the public’s attention to health and wellness, but left many questions. States, counties, and cities have issued different sets of rules. Some communities have reopened for business, even as the virus continues to circulate. The confusing and ever-changing messages around COVID-19 leave many people unsure how to protect themselves and their family members, including loved ones who live far away.
For health advisors, these unusual circumstances offer a unique opportunity to demonstrate the value we bring to clients.
What is a health advisor?
Health advisors are expert consultants on everything relating to health and wellness. Their expertise stems from many years of experience in tackling complex problems for patients and improving care. Just as a financial advisor guides a client’s financial decisions, health advisors support individuals, families, and groups by helping them navigate the healthcare system. Health advisors locate top doctors, obtain meaningful second opinions, outline treatment options, recommend appropriate health insurance plans, and execute challenging healthcare decisions.
Making healthcare decisions involves tough choices even in the best of times, but during a pandemic, everything becomes more complicated. When clients are unsure what to do or where to turn for help with their health concerns, a health advisor provides insights, explanations, and guidance every step of the way.
Managing healthcare and making decisions in a pandemic
There’s heightened anxiety around health issues. My firm, Better Health Advisors, is a health care advisor. We alleviate that anxiety for our clients – both individual and corporate, nationwide – by working on retainer with 24/7 availability, staying abreast of the latest evidence-based COVID-19 information, and offering COVID-19 planning services uniquely tailored to suit each client’s needs and preferences.
Here’s a real-life example of what health advisory in a pandemic looks like. One client, who I will refer to as Jim, keeps us on retainer for both his family and his essential business. A few months ago, following the pandemic declaration, he called me because his wife has a chronic illness that puts her in the higher risk category for COVID-19 complications.
Concerned, Jim wanted to know what actions he and his family could take to ensure his wife’s safety. He asked if they would have to make separate living arrangements, or if they could continue to see each other. Jim also owns an essential business in New Jersey, so he needed a COVID-19 plan to keep his employees safe.
I immediately assessed the family’s health situation, past medical history, insurance coverage, and the presence of others in the home. Together, we created a plan that made it possible for the family to safely see each other. With that in place, Jim and his wife could sleep soundly, knowing they had taken extra precautions to reduce her risk of contracting COVID-19.
After addressing the family’s situation, I examined Jim’s business, which required clear and controlled policies and procedures to limit COVID-19 transmission throughout the office. Using a methodology grounded in improvement science, I talked to Jim’s team, performed an assessment, and created a COVID-19 plan outlining best practices for the workplace. The plan incorporated the latest scientific research, and my team guided its implementation. With COVID-19 as the new normal, health advisors are here for clients, like Jim’s family and business, in the face of life’s uncertainties.
Why work with a health advisor?
When high-net worth individuals sell their companies, they don’t ask Google or Alexa, “How do I manage my family fortune?” Rather, they rely on a team of experts, including financial advisors, to help them determine the best strategies. Yet people often turn to the internet with their medical questions.
The Internet is a valuable tool, but it is difficult to determine whether the medical information you find online is coming from reliable sources. Bad information causes unnecessary worry, while false “cures” are downright dangerous. To make informed, intelligent choices, consult an expert. Instead of trying to answer your questions yourself, step back, take a few deep breaths, and talk to a health advisor about how to proceed.
When we’re not in a pandemic, a health advisor’s work may take a lower profile, but it’s just as important. In addition to helping people living with chronic illness, advisors use their expertise to advocate for people experiencing substance abuse, cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and other debilitating health conditions.
As another example, I’ll tell you about “Anna,” a client who lives in North Carolina and was recently diagnosed with cancer. As a team, led by our nurse practitioner, we helped Anna and her family understand the diagnosis, clarified health information, and organized a second opinion. By steering the process, we were able to put the family at ease in a stressful time.
The healthcare system is labyrinthine, and it’s easy to get lost without a guide. No matter what a client is dealing with, a health advisor provides answers, emotional support, and a hand to hold. We exist to help you thrive.
This article is the first in a series for Advisor Perspectives. John Samuels is founder and CEO of Better Health Advisors, an independent healthcare advisory practice based out of New York City. John served as a senior healthcare leader in New York City’s top hospitals for over 20 years. He uses his extensive healthcare experience and wide network of medical professionals to achieve the best possible care for clients nationwide. To learn more about what Better Health Advisors can do for you, your family, or your company, visit our website, email [email protected], or call (646) 883-9717.
Read more articles by John Samuels
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
