Ask The Patient Advocate

How to Prepare for Medical Travel: A Patient’s Checklist for Out-of-State or International Care

Are you considering traveling for medical care? Have you wondered what you should prepare before seeing a specialist in another state or country? Or worried that without the right planning, medical travel could quickly become overwhelming? Traveling for healthcare can open the door to new expertise, advanced treatments, and valuable second opinions. For many patients facing complex diagnoses, rare conditions, or unanswered questions, out-of-state or international care can provide new possibilities and fresh perspectives. But without careful preparation, medical travel can also become stressful, confusing, and logistically complicated. In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine walk listeners through an essential patient checklist for preparing for medical travel—helping you approach the process with organization, clarity, and confidence. Building on a previous episode about when it may be time to seek care farther away, this conversation focuses on the practical steps patients should take before, during, and after traveling for medical care. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why preparation is one of the most important factors in successful medical travel • What medical records and documentation you should gather before leaving • How to clarify your goals before meeting with a new specialist • What to research about providers, hospitals, and treatment programs • The critical logistical details patients often overlook, including travel timing, lodging, and recovery support • Why planning for follow-up care at home is just as important as the trip itself If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Reality of Lyme Disease with Maria Malaguti

What if your symptoms were dismissed as anxiety… when you knew something was terribly wrong? What if test results came back “normal,” but your body was falling apart? And what would you do if the healthcare system left you feeling invisible and alone? Lyme disease affects millions — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses in modern medicine. This month is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This episode aims to spread awareness of an illness that affects nearly 500,000 new people in the U.S. annually. In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Maria Malaguti, Founder and Executive Director of the Lyme Disease Resource Center, to discuss the long and often isolating road of tick-borne illness — and how advocacy can change everything. Maria’s journey began after what she believed was a simple spider bite while backpacking. What followed was a steady health decline, unexplained neurological symptoms, and a terrifying ER visit where her concerns were dismissed and she was handed a prescription for Prozac — without a thorough evaluation. In this episode, we explore: • Why Lyme disease is still frequently misunderstood • The emotional toll of being dismissed in medical settings • How chronic tick-borne illness impacts work, identity, and mental health • The difference between physical treatment and whole-person healing • What self-advocacy truly looks like after a diagnosis • Why no patient should have to navigate disability or healthcare bureaucracy alone • The power of community in moving from victimhood to empowerment If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395. Connect with Maria Malaguti: https://www.lymedrc.org/ [https://www.lymedrc.org/] https://www.facebook.com/ldrcnoho [https://www.facebook.com/ldrcnoho] https://www.instagram.com/lymedrcincnorthampton/ [https://www.instagram.com/lymedrcincnorthampton/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyme-disease-resource-center-inc-/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyme-disease-resource-center-inc-/] https://www.youtube.com/@LymeDRCIncNorthampton/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@LymeDRCIncNorthampton/videos]      Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When to Look Afar. When to Seek Out-of-State or Out-of-Country Medical Care?

Have you ever wondered if the answers you’re looking for might exist somewhere beyond your local healthcare system? Have you seen multiple providers but still feel like your care has stalled? Or ask yourself whether seeking care in another state — or even another country — could open the door to better options? In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore an important and often emotional question many patients quietly face: When should you consider looking farther away for medical care? Most healthcare journeys begin close to home. Local providers are convenient, familiar, and often the first place patients turn for answers. But sometimes, despite following every recommendation, completing extensive testing, and consulting multiple specialists, patients may still feel like they’re not moving forward. In this thoughtful discussion, Dr. Borrelli explains: • The key signs that it may be time to explore care beyond your local healthcare system • Why certain conditions require highly specialized programs or multidisciplinary teams • When traveling for care may make a meaningful difference in outcomes • The powerful role that second and third medical opinions can play in complex cases • What patients should carefully consider before traveling for medical care, including logistics, finances, and follow-up planning If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Who Cares for the Caregiver? The Untold Story of Caregiving With Charlotte Bayala

Who is holding the caregiver together? Who checks in on the person managing the medications, the appointments, the fear — and the family? And when was the last time a caregiver was told they don’t have to earn their rest? When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the spotlight — rightfully — focuses on the patient. But behind nearly every patient is someone quietly carrying the weight of it all. In this heartfelt episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli turns the focus to the often invisible role of the caregiver with special guest Charlotte Bayala — speaker, yoga and meditation teacher, caregiver advocate, and host of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast. Charlotte shares her lived experience caring for her husband through cancer and unpacks what caregiving really looks like behind the scenes. Because caregiving isn’t one role. It’s dozens. Together, Dr. Borrelli and Charlotte explore: • Why caregiver burnout often goes unrecognized — even by the caregiver • The slow creep of exhaustion, irritability, and “normalizing” survival mode • The emotional tension of feeling grateful and resentful at the same time • Why caregivers don’t need permission to rest • How caregiving reshapes identity, partnership, and personal strength • The power of learning to “take up space” in medical settings • A simple breathing tool anyone can use to regulate the nervous system in moments of overwhelm If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395. Connect with Charlotte Bayala: https://www.charlottebayala.com/ [https://www.charlottebayala.com/] https://www.instagram.com/cancercaregiverpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/cancercaregiverpodcast] https://www.facebook.com/charlottebayalayoga [https://www.facebook.com/charlottebayalayoga] Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

What Are We Doing About Medical Errors?

Have you ever wondered how medical errors happen? Have you ever left a healthcare appointment worrying that something might have been missed? Or asked yourself what patients and families can actually do to help prevent mistakes in complex medical situations? In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore a difficult but essential topic in modern healthcare: medical errors. For many people, trust in the healthcare system feels automatic—until something goes wrong. A missed test result. A medication mix-up. A breakdown in communication between providers. When these situations occur, patients and families are often left with the same painful questions: How did this happen? Could it have been prevented? Healthcare today is incredibly complex. Multiple specialists, medication changes, electronic records, and busy clinical environments create countless moving parts.  In this important conversation, Dr. Borrelli explains: • What medical errors are—and why they sometimes happen • Why even strong healthcare safety systems cannot eliminate every risk • The emotional impact medical errors can have on patients and families • The powerful role patients play in improving safety through awareness and communication • How asking questions and confirming information can help prevent misunderstandings If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.