Navigation

With patient navigation now established as a valuable component of cancer care, most providers understand what “navigation” means, but fresh insights such as those provided by a veteran of navigation, Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, are welcomed.

At the recent AONN+ regional meeting, Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, CBCN, CBEC, spoke about the ability of oncology nurse navigators to advance population health in a variety of ways and create value in the process.

Through assessment, shared decision-making, and identifying and coordinating resources, patient navigators can make care more accessible and may increase adherence to screening and timely diagnostic follow-up care and cancer treatment.

This issue of JONS also comprises a wealth of learning guides dedicated to providing patient navigators with information about the core competencies of navigation.

A report on the evolution of patient navigation to cover consensus-based core competencies.

Patient navigation is a patient-centered healthcare delivery method that assists patients in overcoming barriers to oncology care throughout the cancer care continuum.

As new trends emerge in the management of patients with cancer, an increasingly complex care delivery system continues to evolve. It is important to realize that the number of treatment options available to patients may be overwhelming to them.

Compared with other healthcare professions, patient navigation is still a relatively new discipline. Thus, significant confusion remains regarding the role, scope of practice, and ideal training and credentials for patient navigators. The George Washington University Cancer Institute has developed Core Competencies for Oncology Patient Navigators and recently released a competency-based online training program that is freely available to patient navigators.

Patients in rural settings often experience geographic and financial barriers in their transition to oncology survivorship care. Using telemedicine can improve patients’ access to care and their outcomes, and survivorship clinics should be specifically evaluated for rural populations.

This study evaluated the impact of the 3-year NCCCP pilot program.