| The H. Kenneth Schueler
Patient Advocacy Compass Award |
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When I contacted Ken Schueler,
it was like finding
my compass.
~
Louis Chiricella
Former Patient of Ken Schueler's
From "Winning
the War on Cancer"
September 2010 |
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 Who
Was Ken Schueler?
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Considered the Father of
Private Patient Advocacy, Ken Schueler began
offering his patient advocacy services in 2000, a
few years after his own successful battle with Stage
IV Lymphoma. His work was focused on helping his
patient-clients tailor their own treatment decisions
based on a combination of their wishes and needs,
based on the best and most current evidence
available.
Ken defined “evidence” as any
approach that was beneficial to his patients,
regardless of what mainstream medicine might
recommend. He often presented options to his
patients that included not only pharmaceutical or
surgical choices, but complementary or alternative
options as well. |
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Ken’s earlier career, prior to
establishing his patient advocacy practice, was
healthcare-based, although not clinical in nature. His
advocacy work shifted his perspective from global to
individual. Ken’s expertise was admired and sought after by
not only patients and their families, but by professionals -
doctors, practitioners and scientists - too.
As
patient advocacy and navigation began to be recognized as a
career path by others, Ken became a leader in the movement.
As time allowed, he mentored new advocates who hoped to help
patients in the same integrative framework Ken offered.
Among his contributions to others who might choose advocacy
as a career was a Code of Ethics. His original code was
modified and adopted by the National Association of Health
Advocacy Consultants.
Ken’s devotion to, and passion
for, his collaborations with his patients and his support
for the growing advocacy field was evident in everything he
did on their behalf.
In early 2011, Ken passed away from
pancreatic cancer, a disease he knew all too well from the
research he did for many of the patients he had supported over
the years. |
The H.
Kenneth Schueler Patient Advocacy Compass Award
recognizes Ken’s role in defining and growing
patient advocacy as a valuable service that improves
the lives of its
client-patients.
In his name and
honor, it supports the growth of this career, and
the work of individuals who wish to succeed by
following in his footsteps.
Ken's work, like
a compass,
guides them, giving them direction. |
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What is the H.
Kenneth Schueler Patient Advocacy Compass Award?
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The H. Kenneth Schueler Patient
Advocacy Compass Award recognizes Ken’s role in defining and
growing patient advocacy as a valuable service that improves
the lives of its client-patients. In his name and honor, it
supports the growth of this career, and the work of
individuals who wish to succeed by following in his
footsteps. Ken's work, like a compass, guides them, giving
them direction. |
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Meet the
Schueler Award Winners
2011 - 2012
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AdvoConnection, a service
organization for private patient and health advocates and
navigators, will grant the H. Kenneth Schueler Award. Ken
was a charter member of the organization.
Specifically, the award will be comprised of one year of
Premium membership in AdvoConnection, and the recognition
that goes with the award. Recognition will take place
through the appearance of the award’s logo on the winner’s
AdvoConnection listing, permission to use the logo on the
advocate’s own website and print materials, the issuance of
press releases about the advocate’s receipt of the award,
and recognition on the AdvoConnection blog and website.
The membership part of the award will be made by
adding 12 months to the advocate’s current
membership. The award logo will be applied to the
advocate’s AdvoConnection listing immediately upon
granting the award and will stay in place for the
remainder of the time the advocate maintains his or
her membership.
Total value is approximately
$750.
Two individual
advocates will be granted the H. Kenneth Schueler Award each
year.
One awardee will have established his or her advocacy
business after a clinical career. The other awardee will
have begun an advocacy career without that clinical
background, as Ken did.
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Who may apply for the H. Kenneth Schueler
Patient Advocacy Compass Award? |
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How will the H. Kenneth Schueler Patient Advocacy
Compass Award winners be determined? |
Any patient or health advocate or navigator who is a
member in-good-standing of AdvoConnection may apply
for the H. Kenneth Schueler Patient Advocacy Compass Award.
The award
can be granted to any AdvoConnection member who
qualifies for Premium membership, meaning he or she
is already active and earning a living as a private
patient advocate. AdvoConnection PACE members may
apply at the point they are ready to become Premium
members or later. The award will be a Premium
membership even if the member was not previously a
Premium member.
Two advocates working in the
same organization may be granted the award, but not
in the same year.
Advocates may nominate
themselves, or they may nominate another advocate.
Both must be members of AdvoConnection.
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Each year, two individuals will be chosen for the
award based on their track record as it reflects
Ken’s career and ideals:
• personalized
approach
• integrative choices
•
evidence-based proof
• ethical
performance and
•
leadership
The winners will be chosen
by a selection committee comprised of
past winners of the award, plus Alexandra
Schueler (Ken's daughter.)
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To apply for the Schueler Award:
Fill
out the application form and
provide the supporting materials required. |
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