Healing First, L.L.C.

We strongly believe in patient empowerment and patient centered care, which means "patients" at the center of their own care and medical decision making, rather than being a passive recipient of services.  We believe that in order to become empowered to make informed health decisions and be an active participant in one's health, one needs resources, education, and coping  tools.  However, we believe that even with the best of these tools, of upmost importance is managing illness is a a strong support system and the understanding and compassion from those around them.  Therefore, community and caregiver education is at the heart of what we do.

We provide patient laison and advocacy services to those with chronic and acute medical conditions.  Depending on a person's circumstances, our services can vary greatly from patient to patient. 

Though we specialize with the chronically ill, we work with all patients, especially those with no prior experience dealing with the healthcare system and in need of assistance. Our services can range from assisting you with locating resources related to a specific condition; providing patient education on your diagnosis or that of a loved one, arranging for services if you are in an acute medical crisis; putting you in touch with others who have also experienced illness and can directly understand your needs; locating clinical trials on your disease, educating others about your needs as a patient with a chronic or acute patient (many times this includes your boss, loved ones, etc); explaining your disease to your employer, accompanying you to doctors appointments to be a second ear, visiting you in the hospital, and much more depending on your needs. 

 Basically, we take care of all those "little things" that can quickly add up and overwhelm someone while dealing with acute or chronic disease.   In turn, this frees up your time and energy to spend on your treatment and recovery.   

The greatest service we provide to you is taking care of all the little things that one must deal with during an acute health crisis or chronic illnes. We understand these "little things" quickly add up and can be overwhelming and take away from healing, so we assist you with them to allow you to focus first and foremost on your recovery or disease management. Visit our client services page to learn more about how we can help you better manage your illness and lead a fulfilling life.

We also provide community education workshops to health care professionals, employers, schools, caregivers, organizations, and the community at large on the realities of living with chronic illness and being a "patient" in todays' healthcare system.  We strongly believe that, even with the best tools for managing a chronic disease or overcoming an acute condition, one cannot successfully achieve this without a strong support system.  Strengthening your support system often means working to educate them on your conditon and challenges and working to change their attitudes as well as the attitude and misconceptions shared by the community at large about chronic and acute medical conditions.  We help them see new ways of looking at and sympathizing with the needs of those living with illness and being a "patient" in today's healthcare system

Visit our workshops page for a detailed description of the many topics we present on.  Our fees vary so please contact us for a quote for your group. 

This answer is simple:

Although understanding of and services for the chronically and acutely ill have improved over the years, illness continues to be misunderstood and stigmatized by society and there are still many misconceptions about and biases towards those with medical conditions. There is also a lack of understanding and empathy on the part of healthcare professionals, employers, family members, and the community at large. There are currently few organizations that focus their efforts on education, resources, and outreach to help others truly understand what it's like to live with a chronic illness or experience an acute health issue.  This lack of understanding directly impacts many aspects of one's life,  in such areas as inability to get time off work and family responsibilities, strained relationships, unrealistic expectations of the patient by others, among many others.

Also,   most of the organizations that exist today are disease specific, which often makes it difficult for newly diagnosed patients and for those undiagnosed but living with chronic medical problems to find a place to go to for general support, resources, and help with navigating the complicated healthcare system.  As today's healthcare system becomes more complex and more people finding themselves dealing with an acute medical crisis or diagnosis of a chronic disease for the first time, they do not often have the resources or knowledge to get the help they need, as well as not having the understanding and compassion of those around them due to the many misconceptions that currently exist about illness.

Healing First, LLC hopes to be the first place one with chronic and acute illness and healthy patients alike can turn for resources and education,  as well as the place for the community at large to go to gain a better understanding of the realities of living with chronic illness and/or dealing with the healthcare system, which will in turn result in more support and empathy for patients, as well as an easier time for them obtaining needed services and accommodations. 

• Become the first place a chronically ill person and all other patients can turn for support and guidance, as well as referral to disease specific organizations and resources.
• Educate others on the realities of living with disabling chronic illnesses and on the difficulties with navigating today's healthcare system. 
• Provide health education on coping with and preventing chronic illnesses, being a resourceful patient, and on other topics related to the healthcare system.
• Empower and educate chronic illness patients to lead fulfilling lives despite their limitations.
• Develop a resource network for chronic and acute patients to include doctors, financial resources, support groups, and other related resources.  
• Develop a patient speaker’s bureau to share personal stories with living with chronic illness, which is often misunderstood and ostracized by society and most doctors. 
• Address fragmentation of services for those with chronic medical problems. 
• Work with health reform organizations to improve conditions for those living with chronic illness. 
• Work to change attitudes of doctors who and other healthcare professionals who are insensitive to the day to day realities of chronic illness. 
• Address the impact of chronic illness as a public health issue. 
• Improve the experience of being a "patient" in today's healthcare system and helping to embrace and further the "patient centered" approach our system is moving towards by educating patients to make informed decisions and be empowered in their care.