Hi. I’m Helene.

I’m a healthcare journalist, national advocate for patients and families, advisor to medical studies, a patient with lived experience and a former caregiver. I serve on the board of directors for a fantastic literary nonprofit, Pen Parentis. I love books and reading great fiction. I miss my dog, Milly. I’m in agent search mode for a book that will break your heart and mend it. That’s me. You can subscribe with the box below.

Why subscribe?

There are things we medical consumers need to do to protect ourselves. This column offers free advice on how to do that. Every fact in every article I write is verified first. I’ll never share just opinions or rumors. No recommendations to drink bleach here.

I’ve learned a great deal about surviving the American healthcare system –– the hard way –– by making a lot of mistakes, as a mother, daughter, wife, and as a patient. I work closely with medical professionals of all kinds to help improve healthcare quality and safety in the US.

Starting in January 2025, Patient No More will be the home of A Guide to Surviving American Healthcare. Chapter-by-chapter, month-by-month, I’ll share survival tactics for each type of medical encounter from preparing for a primary care visit to dealing with emergencies, making major medical decisions and small ones. [and, YES, it’s still FREE!]