Ilene Corina: A “Take-Charge” Leader and the Pulse of Patient Safety

Patient Advocacy Now

In this Season 1 finale, we speak with Ilene Corina, a patient advocate with over 25 years of experience. Ilene shares her personal journey, which began with the tragic loss of her three-year-old son after a tonsillectomy due to medical errors. This heartbreaking experience motivated her to become an advocate for patient safety. She also highlights her work with various communities, including those with disabilities, transgender individuals, and homeless patients, shedding light on the biases and challenges they face within the healthcare system. Ilene emphasizes the importance of advocacy in ensuring patient safety, reducing medical errors, and improving communication between healthcare providers and patients.

Ilene discusses the training and certification process for patient advocates, including the board-certified patient advocate (BCPA) designation. She emphasizes the need for empathy, effective communication, and a focus on patient safety in advocate training. The episode touches on common medical errors, such as medication mix-ups and wrong-side surgeries, and Ilene provides valuable tips on how patients and their advocates can address these issues.