Patient Navigator | We are guides for your journey through illness and aging.

I reached out to Elisabeth in the midst of an ongoing healthcare problem and although I contacted her hours before she was taking a flight out of the country, she responded and was able to give me a host of useful, insightful information that proved helpful. She went above and beyond in a short time frame and I look forward to working with her further. Compassion combined with knowledge can be a lifesaver in the stressful maze of healthcare.

Gina

Our family is so grateful for the support we received from Elisabeth Schuler at Patient Navigator. My sisters and I were dealing with the care of our 87-year-old mother who had progressively worsening health issues and rapidly transitioned from independent living to bouncing between hospital and rehab stays. Her condition unfortunately continued to worsen and we had the very emotional and challenging period where we needed to consider hospice care. Elisabeth was a tremendous help throughout this process, explaining the differences between palliative and hospice care, and providing advice and logistical support with the multitude of decisions that had to be made. She had ready resources available for home health aides and was there during difficult decision meetings to provide not only emotional support but also to make sure that we understood all options available under Medicare coverage. Elisabeth was a voice of reason and stability during a very difficult time and it was a great comfort to have her very knowledgeable and compassionate support.

Eric

When I was faced with multiple illnesses and knee replacement surgery, Elisabeth was a godsend in navigating 2 stints in rehab and a complicated transition home. She is experienced, persistent and effective when things go wrong. When I was feeling anxious or frustrated in a rehab setting, she helped me work through those feelings; I always felt better after talking with her.

Constance

When my health care support system turned a deaf ear to my request for evaluation of cancer symptoms, I didn’t know how to effectively advocate for myself. I therefore went outside my system and, fortunately, was able to get the life-saving tests and surgery that I needed. Later, I was angry at myself for not having been more effective in fighting for my rights . That’s the point at which I turned to Elisabeth Schuler at Patient Navigator. She provided the clear head and forceful approach that led to my successful appeal of previously rejected claims. My only regret is that I didn’t contact Patient Navigator when my crisis began.

Paul | January 24, 2022

Paul

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a situation and need an advocate, be grateful that people like Elisabeth exist. Cannot say enough wonderful things about my experience. She is responsive, resourceful, and totally committed to helping people navigate a broken system. She is compassionate, empathetic, kind, generous and resourceful. It is truly unbelievable that a company or specialist like this even needs to exist, but thanks to the state of our broken system it is necessary to work with a patient navigator.

I was in a motor vehicle accident 7/2/20 when a kid tooling around my beach town on vacation in Daddy’s car – hit me driver side door. I sustained a CSpine injury and 2 torn rotator cuffs. After 1.5 YEARS of treatment and over 137 visits including ER, PT, Spine Dr, IMEs, Pain Specialist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medication, Spinal Blocks, Failed Surgery….and endless hours and hours and hours on the phone, I had truly given up. I was not better and didn’t know where to turn. No Fault Insurance had dropped me, and I was on Medicaid searching for all new Dr’s.

I have always been wildly independent, financially secure, and now facing the end of the line as a single woman, and homeowner that had not been able to work since the accident. I was no closer to being better. I have worked my whole life, with a home, savings, retirement. Always had good healthcare…and when I needed it most, there was nothing left. I was all done. Physically, emotionally and financially.

I found Elisabeth via Google search in a desperate attempt to find someone, anyone who could help me. I was truly at my wits end. No end in sight.
She gave me hope, advice, resources, and the peace of mind knowing that there was always someone there to help. Thank GOD people like Elisabeth exist when you need an angel on earth.
Lisa | November 10, 2021

Lisa

Although Elisabeth is based in Virginia, she was invaluable in helping my disabled brother who lives in Chicago. He has suffered from treatment-resistant depression most of his adult life. Being disabled and on Medicaid, his options for quality psychiatric treatment are limited. He needed a new doctor but was unable to find a psychiatrist specializing in his condition that accepted Medicare. Elisabeth not only found him a great doctor in the Chicago area, but she also scouted out an experimental but highly promising treatment program that agreed to accept him at a dramatically reduced fee. This was far above and beyond our expectations. If you are confused, frustrated, or struggling to figure out your next step Elisabeth can help you move forward, with great knowledge and compassion.

Jackie

I wish I had contacted Elisabeth sooner in my healthcare journey. She is an absolute force when it comes to compassionate & thorough research and also in following that up with advocacy to make sure appropriate care takes place. She pinpointed my problem, put me in the right treatment direction, and accompanied me to appointments when I was not in a place to advocate for myself. She also didn’t let me give up on finding an answer. Saying I am grateful for her work is an understatement about the value of what she did for my well-being.

Katherine

As our parents become elderly, adult children can become the decision maker. Some parents request to stay in their homes, others prefer to live out their lives in an independent/assisted living facility. In my case, my father’s desire is to live out his life in his home. After two falls, fortunately he was not hurt, caretakers were employed. Advanced senility set in causing him to become more confused and contentious. My sons, who live on the west coast and I on the east coast, lent emotional support but were unable to physically help out. Consequently, my oldest son went a step further and researched patient advocates. Fortunately, for our family, he found Elisabeth Schuler. Elisabeth’s sagacious listening skills, enabled her to quickly comprehend our needs; with her guidance, a comfortable solution was implemented. Elisabeth’s knowledge, and compassion is a variable tool for any family dealing with complicated health/medical issues.

Linda

My spouse is facing a complex medical situation that feels overwhelming. I found Patient Navigator online and reached out. The response I received was welcoming and reassuring and I got pointed in the right direction. It was easy to see and, more importantly, feel the genuine compassion!

Wes

I contacted Elisabeth one the very day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was terrified and Elisabeth’s one-step-at-at-a-time attitude helped me to calm myself to prepare for the journey ahead. Each and every step of the way she has been there for me with excellent advice, wonderful referrals, and insight that she has gained through her years of experience dealing with navigating this very stressful journey with others, again and again. She helped me to find ways to be completely organized so that I felt assured that I knew what I was talking about and what I needed at every consultation. She helped me understand testing and treatment options–each question I had was answered with by her with comprehensive research. She was there for me every step of the way–which was invaluable. I was very lucky to have an early stage cancer and not have to do chemo, and I am sure that her encouragement helped me to make quick but very knowledgeable decisions that definitely helped me in achieving my successful outcome. I can’t recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Elisabeth!

Grace, Phoenix, AZ

Being a new 65 year old and navigating through the open enrollment time was confusing and frustrating. A friend, recommended Elisabeth and what a life saver. She gave me clear, concise, and easy to follow instructions on what to look for in a Medicare supplement plan that would work for me and explained it so I could understand. I highly recommend Elisabeth to anyone trying to filter through choosing Medicare insurance. She made me feel comfortable with my decision.

Kathryn, Missouri

We met Elisabeth when my 28-year old daughter was stuck in a Maryland hospital suffering from what appeared to be undiagnosed intracranial pressure, unable to sit up or extend her legs without experiencing severe neurological symptoms and taking steroids in an effort to keep the neurological events from escalating. Elisabeth was alarmed by the lack of urgency with which my daughter’s condition was being addressed by her doctors. She participated in several telemedicine appointments with us, always able to convey the sense of urgency of the situation to the doctors and wrote several e-mails to doctors on our behalf. As a result, we were able to get a referral to a specialist for further evaluation. Our brief encounter with Elisabeth took place within the span of a few days. She did this work for us before we got to the point of officially securing the services of Patient Navigator. She followed up with us several times to make sure my daughter had a plan to address her health issues going forward. In addition to being a tremendous resource for those navigating the medical maze, she is kind and compassionate. I would not hesitate in using the services of Patient Navigator in the future and anticipate that we will need to call upon them again.

Debbie, Burtonsville, MD

Elisabeth was incredibly effective in helping us figure out how to care for our 89 year old mother. She is clearly very experienced and competent. She addressed the concerns of all the siblings in a straightforward and compassionate way, and focused our thinking: Is assisted living an option? What are nursing care options and how do we handle that? How does Medicaid/Medicare fit her situation? What happens if our mother falls and cannot return home? In-home care – what about that? Elisabeth came up with a game plan based on our priorities (both emotional and financial), and those of our mother. She allowed us to see our way forward through a difficult situation. Thank you!

Nancy, Chevy Chase, MD

Elisabeth Schuler, Patient Navigator. Confronted with a serious complex medical situation, which in all likelihood would shorten my life, I found myself with a number of medical professionals supporting my efforts to optimize my chances for more time. Against this backdrop, it was hugely important to coordinate the professionals, and organize the paper work to assure that everyone who needed to have information readily available could access that material. The need to do this while at the same time managing debilitating treatments was often overwhelming. I learned of Patient Navigator, owned by Elisabeth Schuler from a friend and reached out to her. Other than the selection of a primary oncology professional, my engaging of Elisabeth was the best decision I have made during my course of treatment. Elisabeth has organized my medical life. She has pulled together in a central location a massive amount of treatment information and doctor notes, she has organized and coordinated conference calls, she has pursued appointments that have often been difficult to schedule, and taken notes from meetings and consultations. In short, she has become my medical repository, coordinating with family and close friends involved with my care. She has performed these tasks in a highly professional manner, working at all hours as required and done so with a calm, professional demeanor, enabling me to be able to focus on my personal healing and well being. During this time, she has become a friend and confidant. Elisabeth is the ideal person for this role and I have treasured her involvement, encouragement, and support more than I could have ever imagined. Connie in Annapolis, MD January 28, 2020

Connie, Annapolis, MD

I contacted Elisabeth one the very day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was terrified and Elisabeth's one-step-at-at-a-time attitude helped me to calm myself to prepare for the journey ahead. Each and every step of the way she has been there for me with excellent advice, wonderful referrals, and insight that she has gained through her years of experience dealing with navigating this very stressful journey with others, again and again. She helped me to find ways to be completely organized so that I felt assured that I knew what I was talking about and what I needed at every consultation. She helped me understand testing and treatment options--each question I had was answered with by her with comprehensive research. She was there for me every step of the way--which was invaluable. I was very lucky to have an early stage cancer and not have to do chemo, and I am sure that her encouragement helped me to make quick but very knowledgeable decisions that definitely helped me in achieving my successful outcome. I can't recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Elisabeth!

Grace, Phoenix, AZ

My spouse is facing a complex medical situation that feels overwhelming. I found Patient Navigator online and reached out. The response I received was welcoming and reassuring and I got pointed in the right direction. It was easy to see and, more importantly, feel the genuine compassion!

Wes, New York

When my mother-in-law suffered a significant medical crisis and became critically ill in the DC area, it felt overwhelming for my husband, his sister, and myself to understand her medical conditions, coordinate her care, and support her husband from the West Coast. Time zones, full time jobs, and our own young children made it feel impossible to be available to hear what the doctors and therapists were saying on daily rounds and to advocate for her when we felt that care could be improved. Elisabeth and her team at Patient Navigator were at the bedside regularly that first month, helping to synthesize what multiple specialists were saying, being there in person to push the nurse manager at the rehab facility to provide the services the doctors were recommending, and keeping us all up to date on progress and prognosis. When we transitioned our mom to a home setting months later, Elisabeth helped dad hire home nursing and get the home arranged to care for mom, set up a manageable medication list and even caught several prescription errors from the discharge facility. I don't know how we could have done this without the Patient Navigator team and we can't endorse her enough.

Erica, Kirkland, WA

Elisabeth has been a lifesaver helping us to navigate my mother's care, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 18 months ago. She has taken the stress off of us, helping us to understand clinical trials available and different treatment options as well as all of the coordination between various doctors. This has allowed my mom to focus on her heath and spending time with family rather than hours of research and communication. Elisabeth is knowledgeable, organized, and caring, everything you would want from a navigator. We are so grateful for Elisabeth's help!

Rachel, Boston, MA

Our children hired Elisabeth to help them deal with an aging parents’ medical situation. It was the perfect solution for the family. Elisabeth helped us gain much insight into the medical aspects and coping with the physical realities of the situation. She and her team researched the medicines involved and the help that would be needed as certain transitions were made. Strong, kind, compassionate, and firm, she met with doctors nurses and other professionals to make sure my needs were met. Would highly recommend a patient navigator for anyone facing life changing decisions and frankly just if entering any medical situation.

Marlene, Vienna, VA

Elisabeth listened, she is compassionate, she is helpful. If Elisabeth can help you, I feel confident she will. Elisabeth is busy and will probably stay busy for a long time. Elisabeth is passionate to advocate. You will be very fortunate to have Elisabeth in your corner.

Brenden, New York City

When my mother-in-law fell ill, my husband and I were scrambling to sort out how to best go forward. We had a ton of questions - Medicaid? How does it work with Medicare? Is it possible to get in-home care? What other resources are out there for her? What questions should we ask her doctor? Elisabeth was awesome. She talked us through our questions, helped us figure out our next steps, and was a very knowledgeable, calm voice of reason!

Lucy, Vienna, VA

Elisabeth Schuler has been a lifesaver during my elder mother's complex heath crisis. (Multiple diagnoses, multiple facilities, then moving to their home.) Dad is her primary care partner, while sibling & spouse and I live on the west coast. 3 concerned adults and 2 stubborn seniors had to learn to trust her, fast. Fortunately, Elisabeth is incredibly knowledgeable and responsive. She asks the docs & staff every question we stickler kids would plus tons more. She's diplomatic and kind but also firm and honest. We simply would not have gotten through this health crisis without her.

Elizabeth, California

The simplest way to capture my experience is this: after several years winding through a gauntlet of physicians trying to find some explanation for my chronic health problems, Elisabeth connected me with a crackerjack medical researcher who scoured my voluminous medical records and the medical research and came up with a possible answer--the right one, it turned out--almost immediately. Setting aside the incredible relief of having an answer, the sheer value of feeling heard and cared for can't possibly be expressed.

Devin, Brooklyn NY

Once in a health crisis most people get the advice “you have to be your own #1 advocate.” Until you are fully immersed in the health system and a situation that requires it no one really understands the importance of that advice. Quickly the information available, professional opinions provided and systems to navigate can put someone untrained in the health industry far outside of their comfort zone. Yet you are still required to make very serious decisions that impact life and the quality of it. The Patient Navigator team gave us the confidence to make the decisions required and set our treatment direction. We have our family and a great team of doctors; for us Patient Navigator filled the last leg on the proverbial three-legged stool.

John, Leesburg, VA

Elisabeth has created a remarkable organization. Her small group of experts have improved my life in remarkable ways, saving me thousands of dollars and finding the very best medical help. Elisabeth coordinates my medical care, while offering much-needed emotional support. She has been a guiding light at a critical time in my life.

Elsa, Washington, DC

My husband has brain cancer and did not respond to standard of care. The only option was a clinical trial, but we could not find our way through the dozens (or hundreds) of options. (And we're well educated.) Elisabeth Schuler and Dave Schlosser helped us organize the search, understand the options, and push through until we found one that -- we hope -- offers a good possibility. We would not have found it ourselves. They have excellent contacts, and are knowledgeable, professional, and kind. They helped us stay positive, as well as push forward to find treatment. We will keep them as A part of our health care team. Thank you.

Paula, Arlington, VA

After my father's stroke, my mother was struggling to adapt to her new role as caregiver. They had an insurance plan and long term care so my father was able to stay at home while he recovered. Unfortunately, navigating the medical terrain was extremely difficult for my mom. In addition, heated disagreements regarding what we felt was the proper path for care erupted between family members. Having a professional advocate attend appointments with my Mom and deal with the insurance company was a godsend. All of the drama between the family members simply dissipated within a few weeks and my parents seemed to adapt quickly as the stress levels decreased. I highly recommend Patient Navigator if you are in a similar situation. It was worth every penny.

Bram, Annapolis, MD

My family and I had a great experience working with our advocate, Dave Schlosser from Patient Navigator. When the situation became an emergency he worked extremely fast searching the country for the best surgeon for my case. He then contacted and coordinated with the doctors to set up my appointments and help get the paperwork submitted to them. Throughout the whole process he was there checking in to make sure I was comfortable and getting the best care I could. Even after surgery he was confirming that I was home and resting well. All in all this was a great experience with truly caring people.

Ashlyne, Kearney, NE

Working with Leslie (and the team from Patient Navigator) was life-changing for me and my family. Leslie provided the right mix of kindness, concern and coaching for my mother who had a lifetime of misdiagnoses and pain management issues. Her ability to support my mother while holding her accountable for her own improvement was spot on. We spent years not fulling grasping what was wrong with her because all of various doctors didn't communicate with one another and my mother was too overwhelmed to manage it. Leslie was extremely organized and smart with asking questions proactively and ensuring that all the doctors were apprised of each other’s diagnoses and concerns. Leslie always provided us with a full written report after each doctor visit or visit with my mom. It was incredible. I highly recommend Leslie and Patient Navigator to anyone facing challenging medical situations.
Aaron in New Jersey and Virginia

Aaron, Manassas, VA

Most likely if you're on this site, you're like I was, frustrated and desperate. Even though I work in the medical industry and can maneuver through it with relative ease, and I'm good at research, I couldn't get anyone to address my problem of memory loss. Dave and Elisabeth were lifesavers. They researched for me when I no longer could. They got me in with doctors that I wouldn't have ever found, and most importantly they treated me like I was a real person while finally getting me the correct diagnosis. I'm certain that they saved my life. I figure at best, by myself, it would have taken me five more years to get the correct diagnosis, but most likely it would have never happened. I trusted them with my life and it paid off. These people are amazing. If you'd like to email me in order to ask me questions from the patient's perspective, you can get my address from Elisabeth, but just so you know up front, there is not one bad thing I can say about the Patient Navigator team.
Katreena in Washington, DC

Katreena, Washington, DC

I contacted Patient Navigator shortly after my mother was diagnosed with dementia. The learning curve felt very steep, and I was looking for guidance and assistance from a knowledgeable professional who'd been through the process before. Elisabeth at Patient Navigator helped me tremendously; she supplied me with practical advice, resources, and referrals. But, perhaps more importantly, she gave me confidence and assurance that I was doing everything possible to help my mom. Thank you, Patient Navigator!

Helen, Manhattan Beach, CA

Patient Navigator's services were recommended to me by a friend who recently lost her mother after a long illness and their service more than lived up to this positive reputation. Ms. Schuler was extraordinarily helpful and knowledgeable during the ten-month period of my father's final illness from cancer. She related well to us on both a personal and professional level and was very reassuring. She was able to provide excellent information and resources and was unfailingly kind and thoughtful. It was great to know that she could draw on the skills and technical knowledge of others in her network, which really extended and amplified the knowledge she shared with us. We were fortunate to benefit from her expertise and compassion during this difficult time. It made a huge difference to know that we had someone who could help us deal with unfamiliar and often challenging issues. I would recommend Ms. Schuler and Patient Navigator very highly.

Peg, Falls Church, VA

Elisabeth Russell with Patient Navigator has been a tremendous resource for my family. My mother has cancer, is severely anemic, and needs help with basic daily activities. Elisabeth not only suggested several home health organizations to contact, but even how to approach them and what to expect. While getting care at home was my main concern, Elisabeth reminded me to think more broadly. My mother has more options than what her doctors suggest. Her oncologist is pushing for a switch from a second line chemo drug to a third line drug. I understand the push to “fix the numbers” when cancer indicators in blood tests seem to be going the wrong direction. But there’s more to a person than just their blood test scores. To help prepare me for the difficult conversation with my mom’s oncologist about the pros and cons of continuing chemo while taking into account her prognosis, Elisabeth suggested questions to consider and a web-based resource to consult. These days, any patient is just a blur of numbers to many doctors. It has been extremely helpful to get personalized help from Patient Navigator to guide me through the convoluted maze that is healthcare in America today.

Sandra, Rockville, MD

Patient Navigator Services has helped organize four years of medical records, test results, doctor's reports and dealing with unfair bills that were denied by insurance. They helped us get a $4,000 bill reduced to $500!!!!

Patsy, Louisiana

Elisabeth has been very professional. She follows up and makes new suggestions when some doorways close. She was there when I was in crisis last week with very helpful feedback.I am sure that I will be in touch in the future. Thanks so much.

Betty, McLean, VA

I am an ex-athlete who has become a chronic pain patient thanks to neuralgia of unknown origin. I called Elisabeth when my quality of life got to the point where I desperately needed help dealing with medical and insurance bureaucracy. Without trying to sound dramatic, the truth is that I might not have lived another year had I not found Elisabeth (yes, it really was that bad), and it's not an exaggeration to say that she helped save my life. I dumped everything on her plate - research, appointments, insurance issues - and basically said, "Here, take it all." And amazingly ... she did. When I could no longer deal with my medical issues, she took everything off of my hands - the reduction in stress alone is worth ten times what I've paid her, and through her research, she even found me a surgeon who successfully performed a difficult procedure that only a few surgeons in the world would attempt. If you're suffering from a chronic condition, and things get bad - I mean really, really bad - *do not just give up* - there is hope, and for me, that hope manifested itself in Elisabeth Russell.

Richard, Washington, DC

Elisabeth determined my specific needs and evaluated my options in a professional way. Her recommendations were spot on. She turned a complicated process for me into an easy decision. Should my medical needs change, I would not hesitate to use Patient Navigator again.

Jack, Westbury, NY

My husband has brain cancer and did not respond to standard of care. The only option was a clinical trial, but we could not find our way through the dozens (or hundreds) of options. (And we're well educated.) Elisabeth Russell and Dave Schlosser helped us organize the search, understand the options, and push through until we found one that -- we hope -- offers a good possibility. We would not have found it ourselves. They have excellent contacts, and are knowledgeable, professional, and kind. They helped us stay positive, as well as push forward to find treatment. We will keep them as part of our health care team. Thank you.

Paula, Arlington, VA

I was referred to the services of Elisabeth Russell for assistance in navigating with our medical providers in bill reviewing and negotiation in reducing the amounts billed by the providers due to the hardship that it created for us and reasonableness of the billing especially with the ambulance services. Elisabeth was exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable and professional in her negotiations. She is highly recommended by me in any services that she provides. Thank you Elisabeth!

Iris, Albertville, MN

Most likely if you're on this site, you're like I was, frustrated and desperate. Even though I work in the medical industry and can maneuvre through it with relative ease, and I'm good at research, I couldn't get anyone to address my problem of memory loss. Dr Zorrilla & Elisabeth were lifesavers. They researched for me when I no longer could. They got me in with doctors that I wouldn't have ever found, and most importantly they treated me like I was a real person while finally getting me the correct diagnosis. I'm certain that they saved my life. I figure at best, by myself, it would have taken me 5 more years to get the correct diagnosis, but most likely it would have never happened. I trusted them with my life and it paid off. These people are amazing. If you'd like to email me in order to ask me questions from the patient's perspective, you can get my address from Elisabeth, but just so you know up front, there is not one bad thing I can say about the Patient Navigator team.

Katreena, Washington DC

Elisabeth Russell with Patient Navigator has been a tremendous resource for my family. My mother has cancer, is severely anemic, and needs help with basic daily activities. Elisabeth not only suggested several home health organizations to contact, but even how to approach them and what to expect. While getting care at home was my main concern, Elisabeth reminded me to think more broadly. My mother has more options than what her doctors suggest. Her oncologist is pushing for a switch from a second line chemo drug to a third line drug. I understand the push to “fix the numbers” when cancer indicators in blood tests seem to be going the wrong direction. But there’s more to a person than just their blood test scores. To help prepare me for the difficult conversation with my mom’s oncologist about the pros and cons of continuing chemo while taking into account her prognosis, Elisabeth suggested questions to consider and a web-based resource to consult. These days, any patient is just a blur of numbers to many doctors. It has been extremely helpful to get personalized help from Patient Navigator to guide me through the convoluted maze that is healthcare in America today.

Sandra, Maryland

I engaged Patient Navigator to identify a top ranked urologist with extensive practical experience in leading edge robotic methods and latest theoretical knowledge in cancer identification/treatment. Elisabeth and her team also searched medical databases for publications and studies that were most relevant to my circumstances. On both fronts I was completely satisfied. I believe I am now in the best possible care and that the most current medical industry research is being applied in my case. This would not have been the case without Patient Navigator.

Ken, Alexandria

We are very grateful to Elisabeth Russell and Rick Pugach. Our mother had three insurances (including Medicare) and it basically meant that bills often did not get paid and each insurer blamed the other. With patience and persistence the team at figured it out, saving us a great deal of time and money. I was extremely happy with their services and only wish we had been in touch with them sooner.

Alicia Fernandez, Boston

I was referred to Patient Navigator by a friend. I am very pleased with this group's professionalism, compassion and thoroughness in doing requested research and delivery of report of clinical trials relevant to my current health profile. Dave Schlosser did the research and provided welcome commentary and supplemental info and links along the way. All good.

Sue, Fayetteville, NY

I strongly recommend the services of Elisabeth Russell and her team. My mother fell into a black hole in health insurance coverage and Elisabeth helped me save thousands of dollars in medical bills by negotiating with providers and collection agencies. She is dedicated and very caring. Not only did she save me money but she also provided much needed moral support. Elisabeth is now my number-one resource for any medical issues.

Carlos

I was pleased with the work of my navigators.They were very good to keep in communication with me during the process.They were able to access and ask questions to providers that would have been difficult for me to do. They were very accommodating when I would make changes to my original requests.I would certainly recommend them.

Nancy

Elisabeth and her team have been invaluable to me and my family. Not only did she help us navigate proper care for my wife during her latest siege of chemotherapy, but she has helped me understand the complexities of getting properly covered by applicable insurance--Medicare, Medigap, prescription D, etc. etc. which had been seriously messed up. Thanks to Elisabeth, we are now on the right track on any number of fronts. I highly recommend her and her team to any and all facing difficult medical decisions.

Jonathon

Elisabeth Russell and Debora Harvey at Patient Navigator are life savers. They helped me through one of the most difficult times in my life in caring for my aunt. Patient Navigator provided expert help in all stages: diagnosis and treatment, facilities including hospitals and nursing homes, insurance, bills, and counseling. I am deeply grateful for all of their assistance and highly recommend their services.

Carol

Elisabeth and her colleagues have been a huge help during my 5 year journey with advanced breast cancer. They are professional and empathetic and have helped me find specialists and treatment options. They also send me updates on information they find about relevant medication/treatment. I will continue to work with them until the cure is found.

Karen

Ms Russell has been an invaluable support and resource is getting me through the tangles of the American health care system. She was there for me when a chronic painful illness had me worn out and unable to stand up for myself. Her team tackled the tedious tasks, like dealing with my insurance company. They have been holding my hand and keeping my head above water. I highly recommend their services for any of your health care needs.

Joy

I needed to find a Medigap Plan and drug plan after I lost private insurance through retirement. Ms Russell guided me through the various options, and with her help I made considered choices. Without her help I would have been guided only by the promotions of the companies themselves and left to guessing which was best for me. Ms Russell was a great help.

Frank

Elisabeth is wonderful, compassionate, and a real whiz at making the right connections at the right time. Thank you for everything!

Linda

Patient Navigator's services were recommended to me by a friend who recently lost her mother after a long illness and their service more than lived up to this positive reputation. Ms. Russell was extraordinarily helpful and knowledgeable during the ten-month period of my father's final illness from cancer. She related well to us on both a personal and professional level and was very reassuring. She was able to provide excellent information and resources and was unfailingly kind and thoughtful. It was great to know that she could draw on the skills and technical knowledge of others in her network, which really extended and amplified the knowledge she shared with us. We were fortunate to benefit from her expertise and compassion during this difficult time. It made a huge difference to know that we had someone who could help us deal with unfamiliar and often challenging issues. I would recommend Ms. Russell and Patient Navigator very highly.

Peg

Prompt, attentive, supportive, insightful, compassionate, resourceful, tenacious. Encouraging, realistic, gets the bigger issues in life. Able to help me try to figure out and navigate through our nation's murky healthcare system.

Naomi

Debora has been indispensable in my healthcare struggles. Most remarkably, she successfully spearheaded what seemed like a hopeless insurance appeal worth 10's of 1000's of dollars. I enthusiastically recommend having this tenacious and reliable professional in your corner.

Nikolai

In the case of the injury of my wife, I contacted Elisabeth Russell from Patient Navigator for help in dealing with the insurance company, the nursing home, and other medical suppliers. Elisabeth has been extremely helpful to us via her understanding of the claim and appeal processes, contacts with various organizations and doctors, obtaining relevant documentation, and negotiating pricing and special request. All of this for a very reasonable fee. I will use her services in the future as needed.

Moshe

I contacted Patient Navigator shortly after my mother was diagnosed with dementia. The learning curve felt very steep, and I was looking for guidance and assistance from a knowledgeable professional who'd been through the process before. Elisabeth at Patient Navigator helped me tremendously; she supplied me with practical advice, resources, and referrals. But, perhaps more importantly, she gave me confidence and assurance that I was doing everything possible to help my mom. Thank you, Patient Navigator!

Helen

A friend led me to Elisabeth Russell's website. Elisabeth was professional and personable when we spoke on the phone. My question concerned Choroidal Neo Vascularization, CNV, secondary to pathological myopia. I wondered if research was being done somewhere in the world that might help save my daughter's eyesight. My answer came in the form of an email from a professional in the United Arab Emirates. Although there is no treatment other than what my daughter receives in the U.S., this type of global connection is invaluable. I will certainly recommend Elisabeth Russell to anyone I know who needs medical guidance. Her concern for our predicament proved her work is not strictly professional, but personal, as well.

Karen

My experience has been excellent. They came back with a full proposal filled with recommendations of how to address my health issue. The follow-up has also been prompt and thoughtful. I truly appreciated all the assistance they provided.

Janet

Ms. Russell and her assistant were very helpful to me. They listened well to my needs and tailored an approach to put me in touch with healthcare providers who specialize in the treatment I am looking for. I would definitely use their service again.

Maurie

My husband needs elective surgery which could potentially keep him out of work for a number of months. Based on the start date of his short-term disability insurance, we had questions about whether this would be considered a pre-existing condition and not covered. I needed to gather information from the insurance company. However, I was concerned that I might say the wrong thing and jeopardize his disability benefits. The representatives from Patient Navigator contacted the insurance company directly, gathered the needed information confidentially, and provided guidance to us on what our options were in timing the surgery. Elisabeth Russell and her team have been an invaluable resource in helping us make informed decisions regarding my husband's care.

Amy

If you are struggling with a serious illness, call Elisabeth Russell. This will be the only call you need to make. Elisabeth is amazing, truly a godsend. She is a tireless professional, who can navigate through very rocky situations. She is a warm, compassionate person. I would unequivocally recommend Elisabeth Russell and Patient Navigator.

Joan

My family and I have had the pleasure of working with Elisabeth for the past 3 months on behalf of my brother, Marty. Marty has a very heartbreaking condition, and we have had continual struggles within the healthcare system, that I don't believe we could have managed without Elisabeth's assistance. She continues to help guide us through the healthcare maze with caring compassion and the knowledge required to make the right decisions for the best possible outcome. I would enthusiastically recommend Elisabeth to anyone dealing with a family healthcare crisis.

Cheryl

Patient Navigator was a big help with my friend who has MS. She is suffering physically and financially, and they helped us find resources that may help her.

Sherri

After months and months of being lost, with poor health, not knowing how to help myself, my mother helped me and I visited doctors. But I needed someone who was more familiar with my ailment. Elisabeth Russell has provided me with extremely powerful tools and guidance to a series of programs and doctors. I am in debt. Thank you.

Annette

Elisabeth Russell's ability to navigate the complex and frustrating medical system is a literal life saver. Many months ago, too physically ill from a history of digestive challenges and multiple surgeries and too mentally overwhelmed to sort out the necessary steps required by our health system to obtain care, I gave up. I gave up hope of ever finding relief of the physical pain or ever improving my health condition. I contacted Elisabeth Russell of Patient Navigator as a desperate attempt for assistance. It worked. Due to Ms. Russell's passionate dedication and deliberate action, I am now getting the lifesaving treatments I need. Hope restored. Thank you Patient Navigator for your time, persistance, "know how" and most of all your compassion.

Amirra

Elisabeth from Patient Navigator was a great help to me. I am so grateful that I emailed her for help. The stress of a cancer diagnosis and all the decisions that follow are overwhelming. She was able to send me great resources on the web and she helped facilitate a second opinion from a top doctor in regards to treatment. Elizabeth and the patient navigator team were a great source of comfort and help. My stress level went way down when they came on board. I continue to be comforted by the fact that I know I can contact her again in the future if need be. Having an independent advocate meant the world to my process.

Janine

The name says it all. We were simply overwhelmed by our Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) diagnosis. Elizabeth helped us find a sense of direction that was invaluable.

Bill

Elisabeth and Debora were amazing! They guided us every step of the way through the very difficult process of what to do about care for my grandmother. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and provided it in a loving, caring way. Their help was invaluable and continued to benefit us many months down the road. We know we couldn't have managed this situation without them.

Heather

I contacted Patient Navigator after i have been to countless doctors with no medical diagnosis after contacting Dr. Zorrilla, she was the first doctor I have came across that took me seriously that something was wrong. She went far beyond what i was expecting. She is a truly honest and caring woman who is persisted and diligent her research,trying to make since of my complicated medical condition. I today gave my primary doctor the information she researched and clinical summary of my medical situation. My doctor was severely impressed with how complete the information was. My primary dr is now following up with what test she recommended. I firmly believe that because of Dr. Zorrilla today was the first day on the road to a diagnosis. I can never thank her enough for how much she has done for me. I highly recommend her to anyone who has a medical mystery,because finally after 4 years of frustration with doctors, I finally have a voice and being heard all thanks to Dr. Zorrilla

Scott

Advice that we got in our initial consultation and follow up emails supported a ruling that reinstated our insurance - more than $200,000 value!

Susan

I found Patient Navigators through a magazine article. After calling and setting up an account, I was introduce to Dr. Karen Zorilla who became a professional researcher on my behalf. She contacted physicians and universities all over the US as well as in Europe, searched data bases, read countless cutting edge research papers and articles and ultimately found a hopeful treatment for me available in Europe. She was much more than a navigator. She was an advocate and in the end a specialist working on my behalf. Thank you Elizabeth and Karen.

Linda

My only regret in working with Elisabeth Russell and Karen Zorrilla with Patient Navigators is that I did not find them sooner. It was an answer to prayer to find such knowledgeable, compassionate, articulate, hard working individuals who far surpassed any hope or expectation in every phase of working with them. My daughter 's long complicated health history was summarized, analyzed & researched. Dr. Zorrila's knowledge, wisdom,tireless efforts and expertise provided us with a foundation to make informed choices that we could not have made on our own and I believe resulted in better health care for our daughter. I especially appreciated her help in communicating with other physicians who were impressed with her knowledge and attention to detail. At the same time Dr. Zorrilla's "mother's heart" comforted the heart of this mother throughout a very difficult health journey for my daughter. I am sincerely, forever grateful. Thank you Dr. Zorrilla Patient Navigators!

Joyce

Patient Navigator has been a God send that I wish I would have known about sooner. I truly feel we would have been able to prevent 2 years of frustration and pain for our son. We are now looking at 3 more surgeries if the outcome is favorable after the second surgery. The feelings of frustration, hopelessness, but most importantly that we could have prevented this breaks our hearts. After finding Elisabeth and Karen things moved quickly and efficiently. Numerous questions were answered as well as compassion given through correspondence. These girls went above and beyond the call of duty and you just can't put a price on that!!!! We were given 2 qualified options of places to go for further treatment. Due to time and the amount of travel my son was able to tolerate we chose the closest one. I recently received a phone call from the nurse of our other option who said the Dr. was going through emails and came across the one concerning our son. He wanted to know what had happened to him. I believe the only reason we received that call is because we had Karen Zorrilla working on our behalf. Words can't express how thankful we are for these two ladies!!

Vonda

Our daughter has been ill for the past four and a half years without a diagnosis. She has very complicated medical conditions and we did not know what to do or who to call next as we had been to many doctors and top clinics and not one could diagnose or help her. We then contacted Patient Navigator and have been working with Dr. Zorilla and she has been extraordinarily helpful in researching symptoms, clinics and physicians,and helping us communicate and getting physicians to listen to us. Dr. Zorilla goes above and beyond to make sure nothing is missed. She is a very compassionate person who has made a difference in our lives. I would highly recommend Patient Navigator and Dr. Zorilla very highly.

Linda

Looking back, it seems obvious that I had a connective tissue disorder? Torticollis, Scoliosis, coordination problems? yet I brought all of that to specialists in almost every field of medicine and not one of them could figure out what was wrong with me. "There's nothing wrong with you besides Depression, Fibromyalgia, and too much time on your hands." Well, Fibromyalgia isn't progressive and my condition clearly was. I just kept getting worse and worse. I was in a neurological freefall, but only Dr. Zorrilla could figure that out. With Patient Navigator's assistance, I was finally taken seriously by the medical industry. I quickly got appointments with top specialists who knew what I had and what to do. I was diagnosed just in time as I do have a condition that requires surgical intervention. Karen and Elisabeth helped save my life. I am forever grateful.

Debbie

Elisabeth Russell and Dr. Karen Zorilla have been a real blessing. I was at my wit's end dealing with multiple providers who were unable to determine a correct diagnosis or treatment plan. Patient Navigator did a great job reviewing my records and finding the right specialist for my care. I wish I had used them years ago...I would have saved myself and my employer's health plan a lot of money.

Morgan

Debora Harvey has help me throughout obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and with continuance of my Long-Term disability (private insurance). She has also been of immense help joining me with doctor's visits as I work my way throughout with my heart, stroke and diabetic diseases. Thank you Debora!

Robert

Debora has been the rock, the advocate, the "bad guy" the facilitator, the geriatric care guru, the referee, the advisor, the closer, the dig in and get it done, the hand holder, the compassionate voice, the technical expert on cancer, trails, treatments and most of all a caring sole who has truly honestly watched over my elderly parents, with honesty and interest.

Meg

Not only is Elisabeth extremely knowledgeable and well-versed in dealing with insurance companies and denials of coverage, but she is a wonderful resource and support system for so much more. Elisabeth helped me through a very difficult time dealing with our insurance company denying coverage for my 16 year old son at a residential treatment program. He was far too ill to be removed and thanks to Elisabeth's assistance and expert guidance, the denial was ultimately overturned. I would highly recommend Elisabeth to anyone dealing with the unfortunate and very stressful situation of encountering insurance denials for yourself or a loved one.

Karen

Our daughter has chronic pain. Patient Navigators were very thorough and responsive in an attempt to help figure out the puzzle that is our daughter's pain.

Judi

Dr. Karen Zorrilla was incredibly helpful in sorting through innumerable tests my daughter had received through various doctors and putting them together in a coherent fashion. Importantly, she confirmed my concerns over her condition and the need for medical attention. These had been hard to elicit from her various specialists, each of whom was seeing only one piece of the picture. The experience has allowed me to become a much better and articulate medical advocate. Having Karen in my corner was a great blessing under very trying circumstances. I was also very impressed that Elisabeth Russell was very up to date on the particulars of my daughter's case; she genuinely cares about each individual case AdvoConnection deals with.

Norah

Elisabeth has been extremely helpful as I search for a medicaid DC or MD nursing home for my dad. She did a great job researching the various homes, calling them to find out their admission policies, etc. This took a lot of the stress off me, since I work full time and have two little kids at home. She is very tech-savvy and sent me very helpful links related to my dad's care. Elisabeth was referred to us by my wife's friend, and she is highly competent and caring. I highly recommend Elisabeth Russell and the Patient Navigator.

David

Her staff did excellent research for a family member with a very rare cancer.

Dorothy

I just can't tell you how much we appreciate everything Debora Harvey of Patient Navigator has done for us. She has tirelessly come over to our home, and painstakingly gone through all the claims, denials, reversals, etc. I was always overwhelmed with the paperwork, and Debora always came with a smile to help sort it out. I could never have done it without her. Because of her time and dedication keeping up with all these EOBs (denials, payments, reversals, partial payments, etc), we clearly had an outline of how Cigna was violating the rules. And it wasn't an empty threat that we were going to file a complaint, because Debora had the spreadsheet that showed everything. We looked like we were going to court the day of that meeting we had so many files.

Misty

My health insurance was cancelled without valid reasons and Elisabeth began by assisting me with that injustice. However, I suffered a serious injury that led to my hospitalization, surgery on both feet and amputation of one of my great toes. The invoices from the hospital and doctors, both during and after hospitalization, combined came close to $50,000. Elisabeth handled negotiations quickly, professionally and forcefully resulting in a 50% discount across the board that I had failed to obtain. I was forced to put those charges on a credit card. Fortunately, as my financial situation reached the breaking point, my Social Security disability claim was suddenly and retroactively approved. Elizabeth's help and expert knowledge with getting my Medicare benefits coverage into effect was indispensable. She also helped me to have the effective date of my Medicare Part B benefits moved back to cover my outpatient charges. I would never have known that was even an option without Elisabeth's knowledge and experience. She has saved me tens of thousands of dollars and most importantly, she provided wonderful personal support and empathy as I struggled to not only heal from my injuries and surgeries but to also deal with my providers. Her support greatly enhanced my self esteem and confidence. I recommend, no, I strongly encourage you to contact her at the earliest possible opportunity if you or a loved one faces challenging medical treatment or billing issues.

Stephen

Words cannot express how fortunate we are that we hired Patient Navigator to advocate on our behalf in dealing with a denial of medical service for our daughter who has Asperger. They were well organized, professional, familiar with medical insurance policies and guidelines, and dedicated in providing the best advice and information possible to ensure a successful outcome. They showed compassion in their work and for our family, they truly cared. Our daughter is being treated at the right hospital now, and she wouldn't be if not for Patient Navigator's help.

Mike

Patient Navigator's Elisabeth Russell was a tremendous resource and someone who was able to 'get it done' when dealing with multiple aspects of the Federal Bureaucracy, researching facilities, applying for new insurance and supporting the family of a loved one who suffered a traumatic brain injury. I highly recommend her/Patient Navigator for patient advocate services.

Kristin

I've worked with Elisabeth and her staff on two separate occasions for different chronic pain issues. I found Elisabeth to be extremely knowledgable and helpful in researching and providing information to help me make the best health care decision for me. I would definitely recommend her and her company if you need objective advocacy and information to help deal with any health care problem or decision.

Michael

I have insurance through my work (which I assumed was the primary) and also private insurance (which I assumed was secondary). A year or so ago I started getting thousands of dollars worth of bills from my doctors going back a couple of years. Turns out the insurance company I thought was the primary decided it was the secondary and took all the money back it had paid out to doctors. The secondary (now the primary) refused to pay. I was so overwhelmed and stressed I became paralyzed and couldn't do anything. I called Patient Navigator and Debora Harvey took over. She had the patience and finesse needed to deal with insurance companies, which I do not. She communicated with the 2 insurance companies and worked everything out. I thought I could breathe again. Except, now there is Obamacare? God help us all. I thought I was safe but apparently not. I'm being told by my now primary that my insurance is going to be canceled and I need to get a new policy because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Guess what? I'm hiring Patient Navigator again to deal with this mess as well!

Nancy

I had a wonderful experience working with Elisabeth and Patient Navigator. I had been spending hours of my own time researching Medicare and private insurance options for my mom and kept ending up more and more confused. Working with Elisabeth allowed me to ask and get answers to the complicated questions and have a knowledgeable resource to intelligently guide me through the process. It gave me a lot of peace of mind and relieved stress in an already difficult situation. Highly recommended!

April

Elisabeth helped us find the right health insurance policy for our needs, a task that would have been overwhelming for me to do alone. The change in our policy will save us thousands of dollars next year alone. Elisabeth was a pleasure to work with, very efficient, and understood our needs. She also is helping me figure out the best way to organize my numerous medical records. I highly recommend Elisabeth Russell and Patient Navigator.

Wati

I contacted Elisabeth Russell after my mother was diagnosed with a very rare GI disease and was in ICU getting worse. Doctors were not listening to me or giving an adequate level of care because they didn't understand this rare diagnosis. Continuing to get worse, I was frantic and wouldn't leave her side and really barely had time to research myself to find specialist. I was frantic and within 12 hours, Elisabeth already had more information about this rare disease then any doctor had for weeks. I was able to use it to prove that they needed to work harder, contact other specialist or move her. The information and help was priceless. These are real people and doctors who truly cared and were everything our medical system lacks! I will use them again if ever needed.

Gina