Our healthcare system is complicated.

When you’re diagnosed with illness or struggling to take care of a loved one, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth.

But you don’t have to do it alone.

We’re here to help.

Find out more about Patient Navigator

Book your free consultation

What We Do

Patient Advocacy

Designed to solve the problems that make your journey through the healthcare maze stressful and confusing, our patient advocacy service offers you support in overcoming obstacles, finding resources and specialists and learning to communicate effectively with your medical team so that you can become your own best advocate.
Find out more about patient advocacy

Medical Research

As you make your way through our complicated healthcare system, you may feel like a lot of your questions are being left unanswered or your condition isn’t being thoroughly investigated. Our personalized research or clinical trial search reports are designed to teach you the language of your condition, uncover new treatments and diagnoses, and help you get all of the answers you need.
Find out more about personalized medical research

Care Coordination

As your family members get older, it can be difficult to manage their changing needs, medical situations and quality of life transitions. We’re here to help make things a little easier. If your loved ones live in Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C., we are available to be with them at doctor appointments and serve as your eyes and ears.
Find out how we can help

About

Feeling vulnerable and afraid after hearing an unexpected diagnosis?

I’ve been in your shoes.

My name is Elisabeth Schuler. I’m the founder and CEO here at Patient Navigator LLC.

In 1998, while I was working for the U.S.Department of State and we had just returned from an overseas assignment, my two-year-old child was diagnosed with an inoperable brainstem tumor. The ground collapsed beneath me.

Suddenly, I was thrown into a completely unfamiliar universe.

I realized that I needed to educate myself quickly on every aspect of brain tumors.

Using the skills I’d mastered as a diplomat in my Foreign Service career, I got to work researching the disease, contacting pediatric brain tumor specialists across the country and learning how to communicate with medical professionals to get answers and results.

Thankfully, after consulting with doctors and making a treatment decision based on the best information we had, my child survived.

But something had changed.

I’d been through an experience that nobody should have to go through – and I wanted to share what I had learned with other people trying to navigate the confusing, inefficient and stressful maze of our healthcare system.

But more than that, I wanted to give people the help and support they need during this difficult time in their lives.

That’s why I started Patient Navigator.

Need help navigating the healthcare maze?

Our job is to find solutions and to overcome the obstacles you may face during your journey through illness or ageing so that you can focus on what matters most in your life. If you think you could use our help – or just want to see how we could help you – give us a call.

 

Start Free Consultation

Testimonials

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
Blog

The Patient Navigator Blog

From advice on specific illnesses to tips on how to communicate with your specialists, there’s a wealth of knowledge on the Patient Navigator blog.

From the Blog

Problem Solving

Crazy Medication Costs Can Be Conquered

Americans pay more for most medications than most countries. The power of the pharmaceutical lobbies is a topic for another day. But the consequences are real for every American, whether using private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, other insurance or paying out-of-pocket. A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with a type of adult-onset asthma. After three…

Continue reading

Contact Us

How to Reach Us

info@patientnavigator.com
PO Box 358
Vienna, Virginia 22183
(703) 281-4744
(703) 281-6446

Please use this form if you'd like to schedule a complimentary 10-minute phone call. Thank you.