I am so grateful to have had Dr. Valentine‘s help advocating for my father during the last year of his illness. The medical system is complex and difficult to navigate, which added to the emotional toll endured by our family as we watched our loved one suffer. Dr. Valentine interacted with my father‘s medical team on his behalf, and her compassionate guidance and support enabled us to make the best decisions for his treatment and care. For anyone facing similar circumstances, Dr. Valentine comes with my highest recommendation!

From my experience, there are three qualities that make Dr. Valentine an exceptional patient advocate.  First, is compassion. Dr. Valentine served as an advocate for my terminally-ill father, and was a bright light of compassion for my whole family as we coped with the progression of his multiple diseases.  Second, is knowledge. Prior to becoming a patient advocate, Dr. Valentine spent two decades as an ER physician, meaning she knows medicine and she knows her way around the medical establishment. Third, is communication. Dr. Valentine has a gift of blending all that knowledge and compassion and presenting it in a clear and human way.  You will not find a better advocate than Dr. Valentine.

I am truly fortunate that Dr. Valentine has worked with me and my family for the past several years. She approaches her work with kindness and compassion, and is incredibly knowledgeable. My primary experience with her revolves around the care of my elderly and somewhat cantankerous grandfather. He required oxygen but resisted using it when he left the house. Dr. Valentine stepped in using tremendous tact, explaining the importance of the oxygen in way that he understood. My grandfather eventually conceded that it was important, but that it was too heavy for him, and that was why he wasn’t bringing it with him outside the house. Dr. Valentine called the oxygen service and worked with them to provide smaller tanks that he was comfortable carrying with him. Dr. Valentine was truly exceptional with my grandfather. She has a wonderful demeanor and takes the time to explain all the medical speak in a way that makes sense. Dr. Valentine has also helped me personally to simply navigating the medical space. I had an issue with my tonsils, and my primary doctor’s office was going to fax paperwork to my insurance company to approve me seeing an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. However, after seven business days, the ENT office hadn’t received approval for me to book an appointment, and I thought my insurance company simply hadn’t approved it yet. Dr. Valentine recommended calling my primary doctor’s office to see what the status was on the approval. It turned out that my insurance company had approved me seeing the ENT doctor, and my primary doctor had faxed the approval to the ENT, but the fax had gotten lost somewhere. I’d probably still be waiting for the insurance company to approve it without the troubleshooting of Dr. Valentine! After this whole escapade, I made my appointment at the ENT and received some paperwork with approval details. Dr. Valentine looked over them and explained that my appointment was so far out that the insurance approval wouldn’t be valid anymore when the appointment came around. I then called the office and moved my appointment sooner. Dr. Valentine has made this process so much easier. She sees the little things, and it’s so nice having someone in my corner.

I would like to share my experience with Dr. Valentine in her role as our patient advocate. It was during a time when my elderly mother was hospitalized and in the ICU for two weeks. It was a very uncertain and emotionally daunting time for me and the rest of our family. Seeing my mother hooked up to monitors and numerous tubes was heart-wrenching to witness. Throughout all of this, Dr. Valentine was there for us. She was forthright in answering all the “why’s;” explaining to us what was happening, and what was being done for my mother. In such a time of uncertainty, it was of great comfort to us to have Dr. Valentine as an advocate. She was/is professional, compassionate, and she explained my mother’s situation in terms that were clear, concise, honest and with no sugar-coating of the events. Thankfully, my mother survived, and, looking back I can’t begin to express how much we appreciated having Dr. Valentine’s support throughout that difficult period. For all of the above reasons, I sincerely thank Dr. Valentine and I highly recommend her as a patient advocate.

Nuestra familia ha sido bendecida y afortunada de contar con alguien con la capacidad, paciencia, conocimiento y empatía que la Dra. Valentine ha demostrado. Su habilidad para escuchar y ofrecer retroalimentación honesta y confiable en muchas situaciones y circunstancias ha sido fundamental, y nos ha dado la confianza para hablar con médicos sabiendo que contamos con el apoyo y la opinión altamente calificada de una doctora muy respetada de nuestro lado. Estoy seguro de que la Dra. Valentine le brindará a usted, su familia, y amigos el apoyo profesional y compasivo que todos merecemos al tratar temas relacionados con la salud y el bienestar de nuestros seres queridos.

I highly recommend working with Dr. Valentine! She provided easy to understand and digestible explanations of my medical diagnosis and medications, helping me to feel comfortable going into surgery, and in the subsequent treatment and recovery. She is empathetic and kind, helping me see that my medical situation was in good hands! You can’t go wrong working with Dr. Valentine, she is clearly knowledgeable in the field and has decades of experience. I was also diagnosed with a rare condition and Dr. Valentine was able to explain complex inner workings of the disease that helped me to understand what was happening inside me.  From there, she helped me feel comfortable with the treatment plan. In dealing with this condition, she has been able to advocate on my behalf and communicate effectively with my doctors to ensure I received the best and most appropriate care.  With my condition now on the mend, I am eternally grateful for the support I received from Dr. Valentine.

Navigating the complex world of healthcare can be overwhelming, especially during a medical crisis. I found myself lost, listening but not truly understanding what medical teams were saying. In moments of uncertainty, I reached out to Dr. Valentine, who became a lifeline. Dr. Valentine took the time to patiently explain our options, clarify treatments, and guide us in choosing the right medical professionals. Her calm reassurance, expertise, and genuine compassion gave me the confidence I needed to make informed decisions. What truly sets Dr. Valentine apart is her continued support. Even after our decisions were made and treatments began, Dr. Valentine followed up to ensure we were receiving the best care possible. Thank you, Dr. Valentine, for being a trusted advocate and guide during one of the most stressful times in our lives. Your kindness and professionalism made all the difference.