Plus Pointers
The power imbalance between patients and providers cannot be overstated. As a navigator, you should assess patient understanding by assessing patients’ capacity to self-advocate, and help them optimize time with their doctors and treatment team (eg. prioritize questions, clarify information with treatment team).
One way to improve upon your professional skills is to perform learning activities that address one's gaps in knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities so you can help identify these patients.
As a support provider to patients as they move through the healthcare system, a patient avigator must be educated and trained to effectively address the continually evolving needs of their patients.
You can demonstrate a responsiveness to patient needs within scope of practice and professional boundaries.
Navigators should encourage active communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers to optimize patient outcomes.
You can help to reduce cancer health disparities among people who are Latino. You can accomplish this by working with other health professionals to establish and maintain a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust.
Transgender people persistently experience discrimination and inequality in all aspects of their life, including healthcare.
In order to optimize access to care across the cancer continuum including the most vulnerable patients, it's important to organize and prioritize your resources. One particular community is the LGBT community.
One important aspect of navigating is giving your patients the feeling of empowerment. Talk to your patients about having them communicate their preferences and priorities for treatment to their healthcare team, and help facilitate shared decision-making in the patient’s healthcare.
As patient navigators, it is important to demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, abilities, and sexual orientation. Navigators are essential to connecting patients with information that is accessible and understandable.
