The Upstate region of South Carolina is home to numerous cancer centers representing different health systems. Back in 2015, Kirsten Beeker and Sharon Bartlett from Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, and Jo Weathers from Prisma Health started our Upstate South Carolina Local Navigator Network (LNN) with help from Lucy Gansauer, who is also from Spartanburg Regional. Our first meetings were well-attended by the staff from various health systems. The excitement for our LNN grew and Jo Weathers recalls that “nurses felt more accepted and obtained more information at these meetings to help us in our oncology roles.” At these meetings, we formed our own community of navigators and, like AONN+, we were not comprised of just nurses. As our LNN grew, we encouraged teamwork within all roles and scopes of navigation including social workers, financial counselors, and patient navigators. Non-nursing roles were introduced to AONN+ and those members saw there was a community in which they could get support and network with others. No matter which health system they worked at, or what their title was, the Upstate South Carolina LNN welcomed and encouraged them to share experiences. The sharing time AONN+ requires at each meeting has been very beneficial as we combine our shared resources for patients throughout the Upstate region.
