AZ Trendsetter: Janie Dalrymple

“ALS is a life ending disease with no cure,” said Gaylene Farrell, a local ALS patient with Your Patient’s Advocate. After being diagnosed in 2019, Farrell’s symptoms have progressed to include bilateral shoulder/arm, diaphragm weakness and shortness of breath. To help treat her ALS, she uses a daily cough assist, a non-invasive ventilator 16 hours a day, a rollator for walking and the medication, Relyvrio. She continues to stay engaged in various aspects of her life and makes sure to keep her sense of humor. Within the United States, someone is diagnosed with ALS every 90 minutes. This accounts for approximately 5,000 people per year. May is National ALS Awareness Month and whether you were recently diagnosed or know someone with ALS, it is important to understand the disease and how it impacts the body. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells – specifically motor neurons

Your Patient’s Advocate is a concierge nurse-based patient advocacy business founded in 2018 that supports clients with navigating the healthcare system. Serving where needed, the patient’s care advocate can attend physician appointments, review medications and medical records, set up medication trays and assist with hospitalization and/or care relocation, as well as collaborate with a patient’s current care team to provide optimal care for their unique situation. “After losing my mother to an unfortunate accident during a hospitalization and dealing with end-of-life challenges, I felt the need to advocate for others who find it difficult to navigate the healthcare system,” says Janie Dalrymple, founder and CEO, who brought to the enterprise her 18-plus years’ experience in nursing, including hospital-based bedside care, home health and the outpatient clinic setting. She has a strong neurology background and was an ALS Clinic Coordinator for Mayo Clinic for several years. “The most valuable piece of advice

Dementia affects about 55 million people worldwide and sees about 10 million new cases each year. A cure has yet to be discovered for the various types, but there are treatments that can help those who have been diagnosed. Keeping the mind active is one of the most important practices. These kinds of activities can include arts, crafts, and reminiscing. The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal. Some individuals may experience more than one, known as a mixed dementia. Each type can damage the brain in different ways producing its own set of symptoms.  Those who are diagnosed may have a hard time understanding or communicating through language, difficulties with problem solving, and struggles completing cognitive tasks and other behavioral disturbances. Additionally, patients may experience impaired visual spatial skills that can hinder one’s ability to drive safely. This disease can cause a

Phoenix company helps people understand health care Helping clients better understand what their health care providers are discussing and their care plans are among the services provided by Your Patient’s Advocate. Here, advocate Rondo Smith joins her client on a physician’s visit. Two traumatizing events changed Janie Dalrymple’s life in a way the registered nurse could not have imagined. In the span of a year, Dalrymple’s husband died by suicide and her mother’s illness put her on a ventilator. While it could’ve sent her into an irreversible tailspin, Dalrymple used the events as motivation and inspiration to start Your Patient’s Advocate. The Phoenix-based company launched in 2018 offers clients guidance, support and other assistance with the goal of obtaining the best health care possible. Dalrymple and her team of advocates, the majority of whom are nurses, review medications and records, attend physician appointments and assist with transition from hospital care

This winter, 300,000 long-term visitors are expected to come to metro Phoenix. As seniors descend on the state, it can be hard to find new healthcare teams. One Phoenix-based company, called Your Patient’s Advocate, offers seniors guidance, support and knowledge. Company founder Janie Dalrymple joins Ted to discuss Your Patient’s Advocate. “We are an independent patient advocacy company that helps people navigate the healthcare journey,” said Dalrymple. “We’re the liaison between that client and the medical team to help answer those questions.” The company primarily works with seniors citizens, but they also help out-of-state residents who have adult children in Arizona. The company attends doctor appointments, reviews medications, sets up medication trays and assists with hospitalization or care relocation. As Dalrymple points out, many people travel to Arizona for many months at a time, but they do not anticipate getting sick. Your Patient’s Advocate works to connect patients with the

Janie Dalrymple, Your Patient’s Advocate Founder, was recently featured on AZ Big Media discussing how a patient advocate can support snowbirds during their travels. With the winter season in full force and low temperatures spreading across the country, many people head to warmer climates to escape the cold. These snowbirds often flock to states like Arizona where they can enjoy sunshine-filled days and warm temperatures; but, moving to a new state, especially as a retiree, may come with many challenges. This is where a care advocate, like a nurse-based advocate with Your Patient’s Advocate, can come in to offer connected care and peace of mind for you and your loved one. Read the full article here!

During the holiday season, there is a surge of individuals experiencing respiratory issues, mainly caused by COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus.  Flu infections and hospitalizations are also rising much earlier than normal. Data from the Centers for Disease Control show flu cases are already as high as they are in a typical January — and the cases are still increasing. There have already been nearly 9 million flu cases and 4,500 flu-related deaths in the U.S. since October, which is about the same amount we saw in the entire 2021-2022 flu season.* Read the full article here