The Beacon of the Oncology Team

The oncology navigation process and the committed work from professional navigators have consistently led to better patient experiences, positive clinical outcomes, and a return on investment that have been associated with a lower cost of care.

This higher quality of care revolves around the basic tasks of oncology navigation, which include serving as a central point of contact, educating patients and families about their diagnosis and treatment, identifying and removing barriers to care (eg, transportation or financial aid), coordinating appointments and referrals, providing psychosocial support, and advocating for the patient to ensure they receive timely and appropriate care.

Harold P. Freeman, MD, was the impetus to this vision, and his Principles of Patient Navigation are foundational to any type of navigation program.¹ It is fitting that the One Team Award named in his honor will recognize a team or individual that is “boots on the ground” and consistently delivers the quality attributes of navigation.

The professional navigators perform their role by demonstrating cultural humility, sensitivity, and responsiveness to diverse patient populations while having a mindset to understand their own biases. They have and continue to seek knowledge that reflects current oncology practice throughout the care continuum. They are bridges to screening access, pretreatment needs such as genetic and genomic testing, treatment support such as barrier assessment and fertility care, and ongoing survivorship needs as patients reintegrate into their community to regain a sense of safety and belonging.

All navigators integrate evidence and quality project findings into their practice and then demonstrate professionalism by disseminating their best practices in abstracts, publications, presentations, and peer networking. They work within their personal navigation space but collaborate with and among the greater healthcare system, community, and national professional organizations.

The bottom line of oncology navigation is empowering patients and their loved ones with information to make informed decisions about their care and treatment options. It is accomplished with personal respect, dignity, and a subjective identity of unselfish service to others.

Navigators remain a steadfast guide to traverse the overwhelming world of oncology.

Reference

1. Freeman HP, Rodriguez RL. History and principles of patient navigation. Cancer. 2011;117(suppl):3539-3542.