One of the most challenging times for cancer survivors is the transitions at different points in the care continuum: screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life care. These are often the points at which patients “fall through the cracks” because they may not know what questions to ask, whom to have a conversation with, how to access the resources or services they need, or what to do next.
We have shared with our AONN+ members how the Oncology Care Model (OCM) is being used to highlight value and cost efficiency. The OCM success is based on collection of data in regard to specific outcomes. This falls in line with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Ensuring Quality Cancer Care report, that recommends quality care to be measured using a core set of metrics.
As October comes in with all the pink fanfare and breast cancer awareness celebration, there is group that shares comments such as: "I just want to hide under the covers and check out.” And "I just don’t want to be confronted with all this pink garbage."
It can be difficult to keep up with all of the cutting edge breast cancer research that is published in the various peer review journals. One option is to subscribe to Artemis, an electronic medical journal that is on the Johns Hopkins Breast Center website.
Patient navigators will work with a variety of patients with diverse backgrounds including people of different genders, ages, cultures, races, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations.
A cancer diagnosis can create extreme stress for some patients. As such, patient navigators should exhibit insight and understanding about emotions and human response to emotions to create and maintain positive interpersonal interactions.
Patient navigators should continually be seeking new information that can benefit their patients. This includes the identification, understanding, analysis, and use of resources and services for cancer patients with a myriad of needs.
We are rapidly approaching the time when one thousand of us will come together for the AONN+ conference in Vegas. A key highlight for this year's conference will be the opportunity to offer the certification exams for oncology nurse navigators as well as patient navigators!
