Navigation

Patient navigation has become essential for the care of the oncology patient in a complex healthcare environment; however, the term “navigation” has been used loosely to describe several functions of the role of a patient liaison, social worker, or registered nurse. A navigation program was created recently for patients who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

It doesn’t matter if you are new at navigation or a seasoned navigator, we each need to invest in our careers.

In preparation for the new American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center focused on having an oncology nurse navigation program in place to support patients by January 2014.

Patients and their families facing the diagnosis of cancer can feel lost, uncertain, overwhelmed, and fearful of the healthcare system.

Creating patient navigation and survivorship programs to deliver SCPs can be challenging. Many clinical professionals are tasked with developing programs, but they may not possess the program-planning skills that are essential for success.

Memphis, TN—One of the most popular presentations at the 4th Annual Navigation and Survivorship Conference of the Association of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) was delivered by Linda A. Lee, MD, AGAF. Dr Lee is the Clinical Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center in Baltimore.

The Patient Navigation Framework: Navigator Function Across Domains will serve as a guide for developing patient navigation-specific competencies so the field of patient navigation can move toward greater standardization of the profession.

This is part 3 of a 5-part series.

Continuing with our series of various unbranded offerings provided by pharmaceuticals and other companies that provide diagnostics and treatments for cancer patients, this list below comes from Merck.

Coordinating care; overcoming patient, provider, and health system barriers; and reducing delays across the care continuum have been long-standing challenges for healthcare managers.