title: Advocacy for vulnerable patients: how grassroots organizations can influence health care policy.
authors.affiliation: Mary Ann Christopher, president of Christopher THC Consulting, served as chair of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America Public Policy Council and president and chief executive officer of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. At the time of this writing, Judith Duhl was senior vice president for government affairs at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Robert J. Rosati is vice president of quality and research at the VNA Health Group. Kathleen M. Sheehan is director of federal affairs at the American College of Cardiology. Contact author: Robert J. Rosati, robert.rosati@vnahg.org. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. Policy and Politics is coordinated by Joyce Pulcini, PhD, RN, PNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP: pulcinjo@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ann Christopher
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duhl
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sheehan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D064650:Home Health Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D008875:Middle Aged; D064691:Nurses, Community Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*