Transcript Breast Health Patient Navigation Program

Breast Health Patient Navigator
Program
Patient
Navigation
How Patient Navigation
Evolved
The program grew out of the 1989
American Cancer Society’s national
hearings on cancer and the poor, which
noted:
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 Gaps in service that lead to fragmentation
of care;
 Delayed and/or missed appointments;
 Substantial barriers to care, including lack
of knowledge of available financial
(insurance) assistance; and
 Lack of social support.
Breast Health Patient
Navigator Roles
Guide patients through the health care
system.
Coordinate services.
Assist with increasing women’s access
to care.
Facilitate appropriate insurance
applications.
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Breast Health Patient
Navigator Roles
Assist with increasing access to
community and social support services.
Work with community groups to
increase breast health awareness and
provide breast health education.
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Patient Navigators Make a
Difference
Assist with identifying, applying, and
using appropriate social services.
Help patients identify and obtain
financial help for their health care needs.
Help patients arrive on time and
prepared for scheduled appointments.
Help reduce patients’ fear and anxiety.
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Breast Health Patient
Navigator Job Functions
Connect patients with resources and
support systems.
Facilitate interaction and
communications with health care staff
and providers.
Streamline appointments and paperwork.
Track interventions and outcomes.
Implement outreach strategies.
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Functions Patient Navigators
Do NOT Perform
Physical assessment, diagnosis, or
treatment.
Ordering of care, treatments, or
medications.
Direct patient care.
Physical, occupational, or speech
therapy.
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Breast Health
Patient Navigator
Program Benefits
Improved patient care.
Decreased fragmentation of care.
Improved patient satisfaction.
More efficient delivery of care.
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Breast Health
Patient Navigator
Program Benefits
Fewer delayed or missed appointments.
Enhanced access for vulnerable
populations to breast health services.
Financial savings.
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Results Achieved in One
Health Care Organization
99% of all clinic patients are scheduled
for follow-up appointments.
20% increase in patient attendance at
the breast cancer support group.
Increased patient satisfaction.
Improved length of stay due to
decreased delays in obtaining
rehabilitation consults.
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Developing a Breast Health
Patient Navigator Program
Define program goals, objectives, and
timeframes.
Formulate a patient navigator role
description.
Develop tools:
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intake form;
tracking system/follow-up log;
decision tree/algorithm; and
brochures describing the program.
Developing a Breast Health
Patient Navigator Program
 Identify other departments involved in
caring for these patients.
Identify potential costs.
Identify program evaluation methods.
Formulate outreach strategies.
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