What does the term "patient advocacy" refer to?

The term "patient advocacy" refers to supporting and representing patients' interests and rights. This role entails ensuring that patients receive appropriate care and have their voices heard within the healthcare system. Advocacy involves understanding the patient's needs, preferences, and concerns, and effectively communicating them to healthcare providers or the healthcare system as a whole.

Patient advocates work to empower individuals, helping them navigate the complexities of healthcare, understand their treatment options, and make informed decisions about their health. This can also involve addressing any obstacles a patient might encounter, such as discrimination, lack of access to care, or misunderstandings about their medical conditions.

While encouraging patients to seek medical help, managing healthcare staff, and preparing medical documentation are important aspects of the healthcare process, they do not encapsulate the essence of patient advocacy. Advocacy is fundamentally about representing and promoting the rights and best interests of patients within the healthcare environment, making option B the most accurate definition.