Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN

Chronic disease is a huge issue and program in America. As healthcare has become more and more complicated, we need chronic disease and complex care nurse navigators to help us better manage chronic disease, decrease the cost, and improve the health of our population.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says nurse navigators help decrease the patient's need to be in the hospital, decrease the need to use the emergency department, and increase the patient's ability to effectively take their medications and follow the treatment plan.

Chronic disease nurse navigators can help improve the efficiency and outcomes for delivery of healthcare in the United States when compared with other developed countries, says Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says everyone who has been involved in nurse navigation recognizes the significance of a professional organization for chronic disease and complex care navigation.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says we can promote chronic disease navigation in the United States by learning from similar programs in other countries.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says she is thrilled to be involved in starting a professional organization for chronic disease and complex care navigation.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, shares stories of how nurse navigators have been connecting with one another across the country.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says the new organization for chronic disease navigation will follow in the footsteps of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+).

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says the leadership team of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) has been very collaborative in helping to start the professional organization for chronic disease navigation.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, encourages chronic disease nurse navigators to spread the word about their own organization – the Association of Chronic & Complex Care Nurse Navigators (ACCCNN).

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says the aim of the Association of Chronic & Complex Care Nurse Navigators (ACCCNN) is to help our country be in a proud place where we have lower costs and improved health outcomes.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, explains why it is important that chronic disease nurse navigators build a trusting relationship with their patients.

Chronic disease and complex care nurse navigators need to recognize that the patients are making their own decisions, and it is important to have a good understanding of the patient’s goals and needs and help them make better-informed decisions, says Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care.

Billie Lynn Allard, RN, MSN, FAAN, Administrative Consultant for Population Health and Transitions of Care, Southern Vermont Health Care, says nursing schools need to adapt to the changing landscape of healthcare by partnering nursing students with nurse navigators.