10/03/2025
You Deserve More Than “Just Go Home and Wait” 💙
The other day, we accompanied a client to the emergency room, a gentleman in his 70s who hadn’t been able to urinate for 10 hours. He was in significant pain, and his caregiver, also in her late 60s, was anxious and exhausted. A Foley catheter was placed, urine drained, and after six long hours, the provider returned, reviewed his labs, and said, “Follow up with your urologist.”
On paper, that might sound fine. But anyone who’s worked in healthcare knows something is missing here.
At Fides Health Advocates, we stepped in kindly, respectfully, but firmly:
■ We requested that he not be discharged until a follow-up appointment was actually scheduled... soon.
■ We asked the ED provider to call the urologist directly so they’d have a verbal report and be prepared for his arrival.
■ We insisted on proper Foley care education with teach-back because a catheter in the elderly can quickly become a serious problem if not managed well.
■ We requested a care plan for the interim, so our client wasn’t just “sitting at home with a Foley, waiting.”
We weren’t rude or combative, just collaborative. Providers are busy and can miss important details. Two heads really are better than one. A thoughtful provider always appreciates when a patient’s advocate steps in to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
This is what advocacy looks like: Seeing what’s missing, speaking up with compassion, and centering the patient... always!
We’re forever grateful for the chance to serve, support, and empower our community. Because our clients, and yours, deserve nothing less. 💙
—Kafilat Salawu
Founder & Director of Clinical Initiatives, Fides Health Advocates
