What does a patient educator do?

A patient educator helps patients and their families understand their treatment options in regard to various medical conditions and life events. As a patient educator, you can specialize in different types of patient education, such as childbirth, lactation, diabetes, respiratory aid, or HIV. Your job duties are to consult with patients who are seeking treatment recommendations, inform patients about the advantages and disadvantages of different courses of treatment, and check in with physicians and other medical staff to follow up on patient care plans. You may also create educational campaigns for the general public and connect patients with support groups. Your general responsibilities include monitoring your patients’ health and providing new treatment recommendations based on their progress.