When it comes to patient advocacy, if someone is threatened, in some kind of dangerous or life-threatening scenario, then they are your red-level triage priority. For the patients who have needs that you know may be not as dire- be honest with them. Remind them that you or your healthcare team is still going to address their needs, but there is another situation that must be handled first. Also be intentional with all of your advocacy efforts, because taking a few precious moments to pause, make a plan, and perhaps find some additional resources (instead of panicking at the number of requests on your plate), may mean you can actually accomplish and advocate for more people than you think.

Effective prioritization in patient advocacy starts with assessing urgency and impact. I focus on addressing life-threatening or time-sensitive needs first, while balancing long-term advocacy goals. Communication is key—I engage patients and their families to understand their priorities and collaborate with healthcare teams to allocate resources strategically. By staying organized, empathetic, and leveraging a structured triage approach, I ensure that each patient's voice is heard and their needs are met with fairness and compassion.

When faced with competing patient needs and advocacy requests, I focused on clear prioritization by assessing urgency, impact, and alignment with the patients’ well-being. I actively listened to all stakeholders, evaluated the resources available, and communicated transparently to set realistic expectations. By staying patient-centered and using a structured decision-making approach, I ensured that the most critical needs were addressed first, while keeping others informed and engaged. This strategy allowed me to balance competing demands effectively and achieve positive outcomes.

Prioritize ruthlessly. Focus on urgent, critical tasks. Delegate or postpone less important ones. Time management is key: schedule appointments efficiently, break down large tasks, and take short breaks. Effective communication with patients and colleagues helps manage expectations and avoid misunderstandings. 1 Remember, self-care is essential. Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and stress management to maintain your well-being and ability to care for others.

Prioritizing multiple patient needs and advocacy requests requires a commitment to fairness, empathy, and clear communication. I start by assessing the urgency and impact of each request, ensuring that critical medical needs are addressed first. At the same time, I listen to each patient’s concerns, recognizing that every voice matters. Equity plays a significant role in my approach. I strive to ensure that no one feels overlooked or undervalued by maintaining transparency about how decisions are made and seeking collaborative solutions whenever possible. Balancing care with compassion ensures that every patient receives the respect and attention they deserve.

As a data scientist and ML engineer, I’d approach prioritization like handling competing workflows. First, triage based on urgency, similar to flagging high-priority data anomalies. Second, communicate transparently, setting realistic expectations like reporting model limitations. Third, balance short-term fixes with long-term goals, akin to managing quick patches versus systemic improvements. Fourth, leverage available resources—collaborate and delegate, as in distributed computing. Lastly, stay empathetic, treating each patient’s needs with the same care I’d give to ensuring ethical AI outcomes.

1. Assess the Urgency and Severity of Each Request 2. Consider Patient Vulnerability and Impact 3. Review Available Resources 4. Collaborate and Seek Input from Multidisciplinary Teams 5. Use a Scoring or Framework System 6. Address the Root Cause of Multiple Requests 7. Balance Immediate Care with Long-Term Advocacy 8. Communicate Transparently 9. Document and Track Priorities 10. Stay Compassionate and Mindful Effectively prioritizing patient needs and advocacy requests involves assessing urgency, severity, available resources, and the broader impact of each request. By collaborating with colleagues, staying focused on both immediate and long-term needs, and communicating transparently, you can ensure that the most critical needs are met.