Beginning Thursday, November 20, 2008, Wisconsin Public Television will air three segments on the Center for Patient Partnerships, the innovative multi-disciplinary program for patient advocacy based at the UW Law School. The profiles are included in the "In Wisconsin" series. 

Episodes will be available online and will be repeated once or twice at a later date.

The Public Television Web site elaborates:

The complexity of the health care system often overwhelms people, especially when they are at their most vulnerable after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Based on her own experiences dealing with ovarian cancer, UW-Madison law professor Meg Gaines wanted to find a way to empower patients. Out of that desire, Gaines created the Center for Patient Partnerships. The Center trains graduate-level students from the UW-Schools of Law, Medicine and Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy to provide patient-centered care. Students assist patients and families struggling with life-threatening and serious chronic illnesses as they navigate the health care system and address related legal, financial, and psychosocial issues. Patient advocates provide support, vital information and help obtaining access to individual care when it is needed the most. Advocates also provide assistance with related legal, financial, and employment issues that surround their illness. The Center's model is unique; no other university offers this type of training.

Further information on the broadcasts is available on the WPT Web site at

http://www.wpt.org/inwisconsin/ .

Submitted by on November 20, 2008

This article appears in the categories: Articles