Navigation

Patient navigation (PN) in cancer care refers to the individualized care provided to the breast cancer patients, families, and caregivers to ease multiple barriers and facilitate timely access to qualified medical and psychosocial care.

As the growing scope and importance of patient navigation evolves, core principles remain at the heart of each program. Dr Harold Freeman has identified and practiced these principles over the last 20 years.

Patient navigation in cancer care refers to the individualized care provided to breast cancer patients, families, and caregivers to ease multiple barriers and facilitate timely access to qualified medical and psychosocial care.

A collaborative approach to patient navigation that involves both clinical and community navigators can ensure that the final navigation program reflects the needs of your particular institution, according to Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH, assistant vice president of Health Communications and Health Disparities at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia.

Tarrant, Denton, Wise, Parker, Hood, and Johnson counties have a higher incidence of invasive breast cancer than any other part of Texas.

Having identified healthcare disparities reflected in the incidence of morbidity and mortality of breast cancer among Hispanic/Latina women (HLW), a team of nurses, Gina Miranda-Diaz, MSN, MPH, RN-CBPN-I; Magaly Fernandez-Ghander, BSN, MBA, RN; and Ivette Cora-Gonzalez, MSN, RN, conducted an assessment of breast healthcare disparities in Union City, New Jersey. As a result of those findings, Miranda-Diaz has initiated a navigation program for this population. The program seeks to increase screening rates among HLW, with the goal of reducing mortality through early diagnosis.