Most navigators will find transportation to be a major barrier to care no matter where they practice. The rural areas provide a distance challenge, the urban areas face missed bus connections and the suburban falls between the two. It is not surprising that 4 million patients miss appointments just because they don't have a ride each year.
The patient navigator plays a vital role in assuring that the patient has access to the resources and services that they need to optimize their wellness. Ongoing support to encourage adherence to the agreed-upon treatment plan is also critical.
Many navigators have enjoyed the increased communication that electronic health records have delivered over the recent years. Prior to going live with our electronic medical record (EMR), our navigators had a read-only view and this encouraged consistent teaching along the care continuum as patients transitioned across the healthcare settings.
More women for the last 2 decades have chosen to get their careers established first, then plan for a family second--resulting in them having children in their 40s. Though it can be tricky due to their ovaries already slowing down compared to how they functioned in their 20s and 30s, it remains a common theme among career women today.
If your newly diagnosed patient meets the criteria for warranting a genetics consultation and testing, do the necessary paperwork to have it happen BEFORE surgery!
The Patient Navigation Framework that delineated the roles of various navigators was used in developing competency statements for patient navigators. This standardized the oncology patient navigator role and led to training on the competencies as well as certification.
Patient navigation is still a new profession, so navigators often must clarify role boundaries with their colleagues and with patients. Navigators collaborate with colleagues to determine the best health care team member to answer patient questions.
Family caregivers are expected to do whatever is necessary to help their loved one who is now stricken with a disease that requires so much attention. And often without necessarily having a road map how to navigate their roles and responsibilities. These are individuals who suddenly got drafted into needing to take on the tasks and responsibilities of two people.
A recent writing adventure revealed how proud each one of you should be as patient navigation has evolved over the last decade as a new health care delivery support strategy. And you have been a part of it by answering surveys, writing articles about evidence based practice, attending conferences, participating on project teams, sharing best practices as well as challenging leaders for more information on navigation.
Patient navigators are often the “go-to resource” person for patients and their loved ones. This relationship is based on trust and accessibility. Patients rely on navigators to provide timely, relevant, and accurate information.
