When Renee Sawdey launched the Advocacy Care Connection, LLC in Jonesville a year ago, she wanted to fill a gap in the health care industry. Because the health care system is so complicated, patients don’t always know what they need to do to navigate the system, and they need someone looking out for their best interests, said Sawdey, who is the president and CEO of Advocacy Care Connection.
The company acts as a broker between physicians and patients by researching treatment options, coordinating care between hospital facilities, reviewing medical bills, and accompanying clients to medical appointments. Advocacy Care Connection is part of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants, AdvoConnection, and the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates.
“There are so many people out there that are struggling with their healthcare and they really need someone to dot the i’s and cross the t’s and help them navigate the system,” Sawdey said. “A lot of hospitals have advocates but they advocate on behalf of the hospital. We advocate on behalf of the patient.”
Advocacy Care Connection doesn’t just assist Jonesville and Hillsdale residents, but also hopes to service college students. Advocates may assist students in retrieving medical records and lab tests and sending them to family or family physicians.
“Here we have Hillsdale College sitting right in our backyard,” Sawdey said, “and we could be assisting and helping students.”
Michelle Masta — who is a registered nurse, a certified legal nurse consultant and Sawdey’s business partner — ensures clients are complying with state and federal health care laws, since it’s often difficult to know which legal standards different patients need to meet.
“When there is a case that needs to be reviewed, I make sure their care is on the right path and that everything is meeting minimum health care standards,” Masta said. “ I also work with attorneys, families and hospitals to review charts and make sure that they are medically sound and that there are no legal implications.”
Sawdey and Masta have 70 years of experience combined in the health care and business fields. Masta owns home care agencies in Jonesville and Angola, Michigan, and Sawdey owns pharmacies in Richfield and Homer, Michigan.
When his wife was battling cancer, Jonesville resident Andry Penrose reached out to Sawdey and Masta for help.
“It threw everything into a tizzy until I got a hold of this Advocacy Care Connection,” Penrose said. “Between Renee Sawdey and Michelle Masta, they completely organized all her information.”
Penrose’s wife is now cancer free, and for Penrose, Advocacy Care Connection minimized much of the hassle involved with treatment, bills, and check-ups.
“With the two of them all we had to do was show up,” Penrose said. “They got through so much red tape. I would recommend Advocacy Care Connection to anyone.”
Advocacy Care Connection has a location in Florida and advocates in Indiana and Ohio.
“We really have the best jobs in the world because we make a difference every day in how people receive their health care,” Sawdey said.
