The year 2024 has been a banner year in oncology navigation as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule approved patient navigation services to be reimbursed under new codes. It released an opportunity for more patients to receive patient navigation and allow them to walk with a trusted professional through the overwhelming process of cancer care.
From the professional side, it creates a call for training as well as outlining necessary skills and experience needed with the evolution of innovations in screening services, precision medicine in diagnostics, and advanced developments in cancer treatment. It is a time to look at career pathways that can significantly boost employee engagement, retention, and overall career satisfaction by giving navigators a sense of direction and attainable goals for professional growth. And the start of a new year is an opportune time for oncology navigators to plan for professional development to ensure up-to-date practice knowledge.
As administrators, it is futile to waste a great deal of time or effort on creating something that already exists. Sarah Cannon has developed a Roadmap for Professional Growth that is relevant and has current resources for nurse navigator development, training, and education.1 Miami Cancer Institute has advanced nurse and patient navigator engagement and retention by creating and implementing a professional career ladder.2 The National Navigation Roundtable Workforce Development Task Group released their table clarifying how the job roles of patient navigators vary based on level of expertise—entry-, intermediate-, and advanced-level—and published a supporting article.3
As professional navigators, there is a need to invest in your career path. What are your educational goals for 2025? Can you join a Local Navigator Network? Is there a way for you to attend the 2025 Midyear Virtual Conference on May 14-16, 2025, or in person at the Annual Conference during November in New Orleans?
My challenge to take oncology navigation forward is a 2-way street. Administration needs to lead in creating paths for their navigators, and navigators need to assume personal responsibility for professional development to gain and maintain knowledge in the best interest of patients.
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