Barbara Forss - Patient Advocacy and Behavior Change

Barbara Forss
LadyBugs Foundation & Patient Advisor/Advocate
Bellingham, Washington
Ms. Forss has been hospitalized over 50 times, mostly for treatment for a rare, hereditary bleeding disorder, Factor VII Deficiency. These patient experiences help her to help others learn to improve their own patient experience. In 1998, she founded the first national support group for women with bleeding disorders, and is now the Executive Director for the LadyBugs Foundation, a non-profit serving the bleeding disorders community. In 2003, Ms. Forsse began volunteering at her local hospital, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, as a Patient Representative. Currently, she is a Patient Advisor on the Whatcom Region's Joint Quality Committee and the system's Medication Safety Oversight Team. Barb has also presented extensively on Patients as Partners in health care. She's now helping pilot a role as Patient Advocate, which involves rounding with new patients and explaining how to navigate the hospital experience. Through education and information, Barb believes that a patient can become empowered to be part of their medical family and health care teams, and that this will improve their own patient experience.