There are key aspects of oncology navigation professionals that set them apart from their peers. While many healthcare professionals work at a point along the oncology care continuum in their silos of specialty, oncology navigators guide patients throughout and within the continuum at each stage. Their knowledge base of operational management and organizational development is unique to their role as it creates a bidimensional effect of interconnecting the individual patient and the broader healthcare system.
A foundational basis of any professional navigator is their patient-centered focus as they function as a patient’s personal guide, helping them understand their unique diagnosis, literally navigating them through the nuances of the complex healthcare system, and empowering them to make informed decisions about their treatment. An interlocking piece to the foundation is the extension beyond medical treatment to include the patient’s and family’s social, emotional, and mental health needs.
At each stage of the continuum, they identify and help overcome barriers to care, which can include financial problems, logistical issues, lack of access to services, cultural differences, or confusion about the care process. In this central aspect of barrier recognition, they promote collaboration and communication among healthcare team members, other colleagues, and organizations to promote and protect the best interests of patients. Enhanced coordination of care is the broader foundation supplied by navigation that ensures patients and their families move smoothly through the complexities of the system and communicate with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
A major outcome of providing the key navigation aspects is improved outcomes in clinical care, patient experience, and return on investment for the organization. It has been repeatedly shown that patients who have a navigator experience shorter times to diagnosis and treatment initiation, better adherence to care plans, and improved quality of life and satisfaction.1 Oncology navigation is special because it provides an integrative model for personalized, holistic support to cancer patients and their families throughout the care continuum.
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