Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a function of a patient advocacy program?

1. To enforce hospital policies

2. To ensure patient rights are respected

3. To manage hospital complaints

4. To conduct financial discussions

The correct answer is: To ensure patient rights are respected

A patient advocacy program primarily serves to ensure that patient rights are respected. This includes making sure that patients are treated with dignity, their voices are heard, and their preferences and needs are taken into consideration within the healthcare system. Advocates work to empower patients to navigate their healthcare journey and to help them understand their rights regarding treatment decisions, confidentiality, and access to care. While managing hospital complaints can be part of an advocacy program, the core function is advocating for the rights of patients rather than merely addressing grievances. Similarly, conducting financial discussions, although important, falls outside the primary scope of advocacy, which focuses more on patient rights and experiences within the healthcare system. Enforcing hospital policies is also not a primary role of patient advocacy; rather, it is the responsibility of the hospital administration to ensure policies are upheld. Thus, the focus on respecting patient rights underscores the essential purpose of a patient advocacy program.