This whole process has made me consider changing careers. Do the patient advocates just get these jobs randomly or is this something they went to school for? I know that my patient advocates at my surgeons office have not had weight loss surgery nor are battling obesity. I would love to do this one day and be a real inspiration for the new patients coming in for surgery.

I have also considered this, so waiting to see your replies.

I doubt they went to a special training course for patient advocacy. More likely, they had some background in the medical field, likely in an administrative capacity, and they wandered into it.

I didn't set out to wrangle insurance for a herd of doctors. I started working in customer service for a managed care giant, went to work for another managed care company, then started in health care services processing authorizations for care, and eventually found myself where I am now.

You might start searching job listings and check to see what commons skills and requirements are needed. It seems to vary widely.

I did not go to college for anything remotely health care related.

I would say actually ask the patient advocates how you get into that kind of work. They would know best.

I went to school for hotel and hospitality management and have a bachelors lol, but i work Guest Services for Disney. 

Just looking for a change for something I am passionate about.

I will talk to them and see what the process is.

I think it would be an awesome career choice. When you ifnd out...pass it on!

I really think the geriatric community needs MORE advocates. To ensure everythign is adequately checked out and explained and not passed off as "oh..you are just old!"