Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Reisman.
Hi Sylvia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path to patient advocacy began in 1998 when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Witnessing the limited treatment options available at that time sparked a deep desire to research and find any potential new therapies or clinical trials that could offer him more choices.
Although my father was in remission for 3 years, he was misdiagnosed when his cancer returned in 2002. His misdiagnosis, along with my mother’s misdiagnosis and my harrowing health journey was my wake up call to see how broken our healthcare system was.
Several years after moving to Tampa Bay, I faced my own personal mystery diagnosis case. My bizarre symptoms started suddenly in 2006 and severely impacted my quality of life. My undiagnosed illness led me on a frustrating journey to numerous doctors to seek correct answers. Despite countless appointments that often felt rushed and unproductive, I received neither a clear diagnosis nor effective treatment, frequently being offered medications that merely addressed the symptoms without tackling the underlying issues.
My search for a correct diagnosis led me to over 23 specialists across Georgia and Florida before I identified my condition as Lyme disease in 2011. This self-diagnosis was later confirmed by a West Coast laboratory through specialized blood testing. Adding another layer of complexity, the internal medicine physician who ordered the Lyme lab panel misinterpreted the results as negative. It was only through my direct follow-up and communication with the lab that I was able to confirm the positive diagnosis.
My health journey continued for several years as I sought treatment in another state and worked to understand other contributing factors, including environmental illness and “silent” complications from a past medical procedure. This involved extensive personal research and consultations with carefully selected specialists whom I vetted to evaluate, test, and diagnose these conditions—areas in which many practitioners often lack specific training or the necessary time for thorough investigation.
Through these personal experiences, I’ve observed an alarming systemic issue within our conventional healthcare system. The influence of micromanaging health insurance companies and large healthcare systems often leave physicians without sufficient time to thoroughly investigate complex or “mystery” cases, contributing to a concerning rate of misdiagnosis.
As a result of our broken healthcare system, there is a significant demand for a dedicated concierge advocate who truly understands the challenges faced by health-conscious, driven individuals like business executives, entrepreneurs, and former athletes. T
These individuals lead active, demanding lives, prioritize their well-being and are looking for a proactive approach to healthcare, rather than navigating a potentially unreliable system on their own.
They want a knowledgeable concierge health advocate who will thoroughly prepare for their medical appointments, help them and their families avoid misdiagnosis, ensure their voice is heard and ensure their concerns are addressed effectively with their chosen physician(s).
Furthermore, there’s a desire to avoid the pitfalls of unnecessary emergency room visits and excessive out of network testing without a clear plan.
When you think of a driven person, they are usually a strategic planner and have a trusted wealth advisor.
When they assemble the various parts of their financial plan, incorporating a concierge health advocate is a critical component to preserving their quality of life, investments and wealth.
Business executives also love the fact they may qualify to utilize their health savings account (HSA) to pay for my services.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Before establishing my concierge patient advocate practice, I spent many years in relationship-focused sales across several sectors, including healthcare. My past experiences taught me the value of clear communication, collaboration, understanding client needs, and delivering personalized service.
During my first year in practice, I noticed a trend: while many people were reaching out, there seemed to be a misunderstanding that my services are offered through a for-profit business. Often, individuals who found me through online searches were primarily looking for complimentary assistance.
I also spent a significant amount of time educating the public on the fact that unlike an insurance company patient advocate, a concierge advocate works directly for the client and looks out for their best interests.
As someone who is passionate about providing thorough education and tailored solutions, it was certainly discouraging to not see a clear alignment with those seeking my support. I also encountered situations where past acquaintances expected me to offer my expertise as a consultant without charge, which required me to establish clear professional boundaries.
These initial entrepreneurial experiences prompted me to carefully re-evaluate my business model and refine my understanding of who my ideal clients are and what their expectations entail. Just as you would expect a certain level of specialized knowledge and skill from a CPA or an attorney, I bring my fifteen years of direct expertise from my own complex journey to serve my clients who see the value in what I provide.
We’ve been impressed with Purity Patient Advocates LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As the founder of Purity Patient Advocates, I bring a unique perspective shaped by years of personal experience navigating a complex health journey and witnessing firsthand the impact of medical errors.
I started my practice in 2021 and although I am based in the northern Atlanta metro suburbs, I can help most clients virtually.
When I came up with my company name, it was inspired by the environmental variables in my healing process. Clean air, whole foods and clean water, and free of toxic chemicals.
It is important to understand that as a concierge health advocate, I can’t provide a diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice, and any health-related questions should always be directed to your physician.
I treat each one of my clients as a unique individual and can truly empathize with their situation.
They love the fact that I spend quality time with them because I don’t report to an insurance company.
As an independent concierge health advocate, my role is to support my ambitious clients through a 60-90 minute initial consultation, in-depth assessment and integrative health navigation, particularly for complex illnesses such as autoimmune disease, long COVID, Lyme disease or dental related conditions.
I also offer customized health/wellness management plans tailored for athletic, driven individuals. These plans are unique based on the client’s personal health goals but designed to help my clients stay on top of their physical and mental health.
My in-depth assessment is what sets me apart from other independent advocates. I developed the assessment to address my clients concerns which include misdiagnosis and lack of communication among their practitioners. It’s a tool born from my own healthcare experiences and the recognition of how a fragmented system can lead to mistakes and a lack of coordinated care.
For clients seeking a correct diagnosis or a second/third opinion after consulting multiple physicians, this assessment is a crucial first step. It involves a comprehensive one-on-one interview where I ask targeted questions to capture a detailed understanding of their health history, going back as far as they deem relevant. I also conduct a thorough review of their medical records, with their written authorization.
This detailed assessment, which can take between two and five hours, allows me to compile critical details to create a personalized plan of action, or “game plan.” This plan outlines their health history, personal health goals, and the strategies we will employ to achieve them. Importantly, it includes a specific section highlighting areas they may want to explore further with a board-certified physician.
We then review these findings together, discuss the available options, and adjust the plan according to their preferences.
For my full-service concierge clients, I take an active role in executing this plan. This includes researching suitable physicians and specialized lab tests, preparing thoroughly for appointments, and attending appointments (either in person or virtually) to ensure their needs are met. I also compile detailed notes, questions, and treatment options.
I also have clients who come to me initially for an in-depth assessment and the resulting customized roadmap. They receive a tangible document that empowers them to navigate their healthcare journey independently, saving them valuable time, and providing crucial insights into the priorities for their unique situation.
My greatest satisfaction comes from leveraging my fifteen years of personal challenges and acquired knowledge to help driven individuals avoid misdiagnosis. I aim to identify potentially overlooked aspects of their health and guide them toward reputable physicians of their choosing. My clients, often high-achievers who value their well-being immensely, are fully committed to improving their quality of life, whether the process takes several months or requires ongoing management.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am an Air Force brat who was born overseas and grew up in Savannah, Georgia.
From a young age, I was actively involved in sports, including basketball, bowling, and softball. I had the privilege of being an outfielder on my high school’s state championship softball team. After a 35-year break, I returned to playing softball last year, and my passion for exercise remains strong.
Beyond team sports, I also enjoy bike riding, hiking, and regular workouts at the gym. As you can see, maintaining a high quality of life through physical activity is incredibly important to me.
I was rebaptized in the Fall of 2023 at a non-denominational church but also love my Jewish friends as my father was Jewish.
On the volunteer side:
Ten years ago, I contributed to a global social media campaign called the Lyme Disease Challenge.
Our team actively used Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share accurate information about Lyme disease with the public.
A key highlight of the campaign was engaging celebrities, public figures, and media personalities. We invited them to share a Lyme disease fact we provided, take a bite out of a lime, and then challenge three others to do the same.
The resulting photos and videos were truly remarkable!
We even had a billionaire philanthropist, whose entire family had been affected by the disease, participate in the challenge.
I brought a mini version of the Lyme Disease Challenge to LinkedIn two years ago and one person was able to obtain a diagnosis.
I also had the state of Georgia issue a formal proclamation for Lyme Disease Awareness Month in 2017 and 2018.
Pricing:
- Initial Consultation (One Hour) $250.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.puritypatientadvocates.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conciergehealthadvocate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puritypatientadvocates/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviareisman/
Image Credits
North Fulton Business Radio X, Family Business Radio-with Anthony Chen
North Fulton Business Radio X- John Ray
