CRANBURY, NJ – The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) and the Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA), the outreach network of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, will partner to enhance the skills of MCA-member oncology nurse navigators. The MCA network includes more than 60 patient and nurse navigators across the Midwest.
Recognizing the importance of navigation services in oncology, AONN+ and MCA will offer clinical nurse and patient navigators in the MCA system membership in the Academy as well as Oncology Nurse Navigator Certification as part of the MCA’s ongoing commitment to providing navigation services within their institution and in rural communities. AONN+ and MCA will also collaborate on developing navigation education and resources for MCA navigators.
“We are delighted to have the navigators from the Midwest Cancer Alliance join us,” said Lillie Shockney, MAS, RN, BS, ONN-CG, Co-Founder and Program Director, AONN+.
“Our partnership with AONN+ is a great addition to the tools and resources Midwest Cancer Alliance offers our medical colleagues,” said MCA Executive Director, Hope Krebill, MSW, BSN, RN.
“The growth of navigation as a profession is exciting and gratifying. To bring yet another institution on board is further evidence that navigation tactics help institutions reach their goals of providing value-based, effective patient care,” said AONN+’s Danelle Johnston, MSN, BSN, RN, ONN-CG, OCN, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators® (www.aonnonline.org)
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+) is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 6,000 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.
The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship® (JONS; www.jons-online.com) is the official publication of AONN+. It is published 12 times a year and features topics related to patient navigation and survivorship care. JONS offers original research, best practices, interviews, case reports, and study highlights as well as a platform through which navigators can share research and views on navigation and survivorship issues.
CONQUER: the patient voice® magazine (www.conquer-magazine.com) is AONN+’s premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues. CONQUER also features patient stories that are nominated for the AONN+ Hero of Hope™ Patient Award, which is presented every year at the AONN+ Annual Conference.
About the Midwest Cancer Alliance (www.midwestcanceralliance.org)
The Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA) is a membership-based organization that brings together cancer research, care, and support professionals to advance the quality and reach of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship in the Heartland.
The outreach network of The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC), the MCA links member hospitals, medical professionals, and their patients with KUCC research and services so that the latest cancer research and care can be accessed close to home. In fact, the motto of the MCA is ‘More Options. Close to Home.’
The KUCC is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated Cancer Center in Kansas. This designation enhances the long-standing relationship of the Cancer Center with the MCA, providing opportunities to expand research and link discoveries made in the lab at The University of Kansas to the MCA network of hospitals and healthcare organizations. It further enhances the quality and delivery of cancer care at all levels.
All MCA-member medical professionals have access to second opinion and consultation services with multidisciplinary cancer experts, conferences and other networking events, outreach programs, patient navigation support, communication materials, web resources, and continuing education programs. For the convenience of our affiliated medical professionals, the MCA provides many of these services at member locations utilizing technology like interactive televideo.
