Company background

Professional Patient Advocates was founded in 2017 to meet the growing need for personalized and attentive medical services supporting a variety of patients who need in-home services, short-term assistance following a surgery, help for a college student undergoing a medical procedure away from home, and more.

Our experience

Our nurses have years of experience in medical case management, including facilitating, coordinating, and attending appointments with your healthcare providers. We know the steps to take, the questions to ask, and the information to gather which will help you and your family make informed and educated healthcare decisions.

Learn more

Learn more about our broad range of healthcare services.

PPA Founder and President, Candice Swain

PPA President, RN, BSN, OCN, CCM

Candice, an RN with more than 30 years of experience, always has been passionate about putting the patient first. With a background in oncology and critical-care nursing, Candice knows the complexities and challenges of obtaining premium quality care. Having worked closely with physicians and ancillary health care team members, she firmly believes in the principle of positive collaboration and the benefits of improved communication between patients and their providers.

Candice recognized the importance of advocating for patients while working in a hospital setting, and then later in outpatient care. Patients often do not know the questions to ask and many times are not aware of the importance of reporting certain signs and symptoms. And when patients do ask questions or express their thoughts, sometimes they don’t get thorough and clear answers. Candice is determined to ensure that the patient’s concerns are heard and that they are treated with respect.

Candice is board certified in oncology and case management. She holds memberships in the Oncology Nursing Society, Case Management Society of America, National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants, Professional Patient Advocate Institute, and The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates. 

Robbin Grulke

Registered Nurse

Robbin Grulke has been an RN for more than 25 years. She has spent most of her career as a nurse working in the community in various settings, such as hospice, behavioral health, school health, and home health. Each of these experiences emphasized the value of nurse advocacy and education, so she chose care management as her specialty in nursing. For the past 17 years, she has worked as a case manager, nurse navigator, and care coordinator for at-risk populations of all ages and backgrounds in a variety of settings. She has seen the positive difference it can make having a nurse advocate on the patient’s team. Robbin is a board-certified case manager.