Virtual Conference Survey - Patient Advocate Certification Board Organization

CHCAO Fall 2026 Virtual Conference Interest Survey

Updates

CHCAO Fall 2026 Virtual Conference Interest Survey

CHCAO is planning a virtual conference for fall 2026 focused on the evolving role of health care advocacy and the challenges advocates are facing across practice settings.

The proposed theme is Advocacy at a Crossroads: Navigating Complexity, Sustainability, and the Future of the Profession.

This brief survey will help us refine the conference agenda, identify the topics most important to advocates, and ensure the event is practical, relevant, and worth participants’ time.

The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Section 1

About You

1. Which best describes your current role?

Independent patient advocate / private practice advocate

Hospital-based or health-system advocate

Aging, disability, or long-term care advocate

Veterans advocate

Family caregiver or family advocate

Student / career changer / emerging professional

Advocacy organization leader

Other

2. How long have you been working in, studying, or actively involved in health care advocacy?

Less than 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–15 years

More than 15 years

I am exploring the field but not yet practicing

Section 2

Interest in the Proposed Virtual Conference

3. How interested would you be in attending a one-day virtual CHCAO conference in fall 2026?

Very interested

Somewhat interested

Unsure

Not very interested

Not interested

The Proposed Conference Theme is:

Advocacy at a Crossroads: Navigating Complexity, Sustainability, and the Future of the Profession.

4. How well does this theme reflect the issues advocates are facing right now? Single select.

Very well

Somewhat well

Not sure

Not very well

Not at all

5. What would be your primary reason for attending this conference?

Practical strategies I can use in my work

Understanding trends affecting the profession

Continuing education credit

Connection with other advocates

Exposure to different advocacy practice settings

Support for professional sustainability / burnout prevention

Ideas for strengthening or growing my advocacy work

Other

Section 3

Proposed Conference Topics

6. Please rate your interest in the following proposed sessions.

1The current state of health care advocacy: challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends

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2Burnout, boundaries, compassion fatigue, and moral distress in advocacy

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3The advocate as conflict navigator: family conflict, patient-provider conflict, and communication breakdowns

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4Technology, AI, documentation, research support, and ethical risks

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5The future of advocacy: workforce development, competencies, certification, and professional recognition

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6Who Pays for Advocacy? Insurance-Funded Navigation, Private-Pay Practice, and Access to Care

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7What should CHCAO build together? Future priorities, collaboration opportunities, and profession-wide initiatives

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7. Of the proposed sessions above, which three are most important to you? (Select up to 3)

8. What topic is missing from the proposed agenda?

Section 4

Making the Event Practical and Useful

9. What would make this virtual conference feel most valuable to you? (Select up to 3)

10. Which types of practical content would be most useful? (Select up to 5)

11. How important is it that the conference include content specifically relevant to independent advocates?

Essential

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important

12. How important is it that the conference include content relevant to advocates working in hospitals, health systems, navigation programs, or other employed settings?

Essential

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important

Section 5

Format and Engagement

13. Which virtual format would you be most likely to attend?

One full-day virtual conference

Live sessions with access to recordings afterward

On-demand recordings only

I am unlikely to attend a virtual event

14. What type of virtual engagement would be most useful to you? (Select up to 3)

15. If networking is included, which breakout group would you be most likely to join?

Independent advocates

Hospital-based or health-system advocates

New advocates / emerging professionals

Aging, disability, or long-term care advocacy

Specialty advocacy areas

Advocacy organization leaders

I would not participate in virtual networking

Other

Section 6

Cost, Timing, and Continuing Education

16. How important is continuing education credit in your decision to attend?

Essential

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important

17. What registration price would feel reasonable for a one-day virtual conference with continuing education credit?

Under $50

$50–$99

$100–$149

Not sure

18. What is the biggest barrier that might prevent you from attending?

Cost

Schedule conflict

Too much time in one virtual event

Topic not relevant enough to my work

Lack of continuing education credit

Virtual fatigue

Not enough practical application

Other

19. What day/time format is most realistic for you?

Weekday during business hours

Weekday late afternoon or evening

Saturday

No strong preference

Section 7

Future CHCAO Planning

20. Beyond this virtual conference, what should CHCAO prioritize next? (Select up to 3)

21. If CHCAO eventually hosts an in-person convening, how likely would you be to attend?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

Unsure

Somewhat unlikely

Very unlikely

22. What is the one topic, issue, or question you most want CHCAO to address for the advocacy profession?