Dear Navigators, Social Workers, Administrators, and Clinical Staff,
As a member of AONN+, you have heard AONN+ leadership speak to the importance of program metrics. While it seems rather obvious to say that navigators should measure their impact on their respective cancer programs, there are still many questions around the best approach to implement metrics:
- Who are the key stakeholders in the metrics process?
- How do you select appropriate metrics for your program?
- How do you integrate the captured data into the electronic health record?
- How do you create a navigation metrics dashboard?
- How should you use this information to identify performance improvement tools?
I’m happy to report that you do not need to answer these questions on your own. AONN+ developed the Navigation Metrics Toolkit to support you in your quest to capture the data you need to assess your program. In fact, in this issue of JONS, we interview our own Tricia Strusowksi, RN, MS—a member of the AONN+ Standardized Metrics Task Force and the Chair of the AONN+ Metrics Committee—about the Toolkit and how it benefits navigation programs. We also interview a recent Toolkit user, Melissa Plavsa, FNP-BC, ACHPN, CN-BP, about her experience with the Toolkit.
I hope by reading these interviews, the premise of implementing metrics at your institution becomes a little less daunting. One thing I know, by utilizing the Toolkit as a guide, the process of implementing metrics will be less daunting!
You can find the Toolkit online by visiting https://AONNonline.org/toolkit. If at any time you have a question or need guidance, our team is here to assist. Send your questions to us at www.AONNonline.org/contact-us.
We are looking forward to hearing about the outcomes of your metrics study!
Sincerely,
Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, HON-ONN-CG
Editor-in-Chief, JONS
University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer; Professor of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Co-Developer of Work Stride: Managing Cancer at Work, Johns Hopkins Healthcare Solutions; Co-Founder of AONN+.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
