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Return to Step 3: For
private, independent advocacy: Develop your gap
analysis. |
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Step
4:
Choose from among the existing programs based on
your gap analysis. |
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Whether you plan to go the
independent route, or you hope to find someone
to employ you, you should now have your gap
analysis in hand. Your list of needs will,
of course, vary according to what you do know,
what you don't know, and what you have decided
you need to learn.
Just a few more questions to ask and assess and
you'll know what you need to do: |
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Program Delivery:
Do you prefer to go to classes,
in-person, with other people in your class?
Or does the reality of your location and your
schedule mean you'll need to do your coursework
online?
Depending on your location, you may or may not
have a choice about where or how you will access
the education you seek. Don't spend a lot of
time answering this question until you look at
all the available patient-advocacy courses
and programs to see if they are really
accessible in the manner you'd like.
You'll find more and more
online options as time goes on. You'll also
find more short-term
(weekend) type programs. Or you may be one
of the lucky people who find that their
educational options are located nearby, making
it easy to take courses in person. |
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What is your
education budget? How much do you have to
spend on education?
These questions
may seem obvious because none of us wants to
spend any more than we have to. Yet your best
choice may be pricier than others or cost more
than you expected.
The key is to weigh value against possibilities.
Figure out how much you can spend by determining
how easily you'll be able to pay yourself back.
A more comprehensive, year-long course may seem
expensive. But what you learn during the course
may allow you to offer more services - and be
hired more quickly or be able to charge
potential clients more if you start your own
business. A short series of weekend courses may
give you the ability to say you finished
something. But if that doesn't really improve
your skills or knowledge base, then it's not a
good use of your money.
That means your education budget shouldn't be
ruled solely by your current bank account. If
you find the perfect course for you, don't be
afraid to inquire about scholarships, discounts
or a way to spread the payments out over a
period of time. The extra cost may well be worth
that short-term sacrifice. |
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You've now got all the
information you need for choosing the right
programs for you.
Return to the
master list of courses and programs, broken
out by their curricula or access, and try to
match your needs as determined by your gap
analysis with the programs that are available. |
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And just so you know - new
courses and programs are being offered all the
time. If you'd like to be notified when
new ones come available, please sign up at
right. |
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Return to the
beginning:
Choosing
the Best Health or Patient Advocacy Educational
Program for You |