Transcript Introduction to Patient Navigation

Introduction to
Patient Navigation
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What Is Patient Navigation?
Patient navigation:
– Supports patients in need of assistance with
one-on-one contact
– Ensures that all patients with suspicious findings
receive a resolution to those findings
– Utilizes a patient navigator who moves patients
through the health care system
– Works within the organization and through external
services to eliminate barriers to health care
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Freeman HP. Oncol Issues. 2004;5:44-46.
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Goals of a Patient Navigation Program
The main goals of patient navigation are:
– To save lives from cancer
– To eliminate barriers to care
– To ensure timely delivery of services
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Freeman HP. Oncol Issues. 2004;5:44-46.
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Potential Barriers to
Receiving Timely Health Care
Barriers interfere with appropriate and timely care
– Delays of 3 to 6 months in initiating breast cancer treatment
were associated with lower survival rates
– Strong connection found between African American race and
delay in breast cancer screening and treatment
Patient navigation originally targeted the poor who:
– Endure greater pain and suffering than other Americans
– Feel cancer education and outreach efforts are irrelevant to
them
Elderly experience discrimination
– Health care professionals may have limited training in geriatrics
– Less likely to receive preventive care or screening
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Freeman HP, et al. Cancer Pract. 1995;3:19-30.
Richards MA, et al. Lancet. 1999;353:1119-1126.
Sheinfeld Gorin SN, et al. Presented at: 41st Annual meeting of the ASCO; May 13-17, 2005; Orlando, Fla.
Alliance for Aging Research. Washington, DC; 2003.
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Potential Barriers to
Receiving Timely Health Care (cont’d)
Barrier
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Examples
Financial and economic
Lack of or inadequate insurance
Transportation
Difficulty arranging transportation
Cultural
Cultural beliefs regarding treatment
Communication and language
Difficulty telling desires/needs
Health care system
Fragmentation of care
Bias based on race/age
Fear and mistrust by patients;
inadequate screening of the elderly
Fear
Delay or refusal of care
Freeman HP, Reuben SH. Voices of a Broken System. Bethesda, Md: NIH, NCI; 2001.
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Patient Navigation’s Guiding Principles
Ensure that quality, confidentiality, and professionalism
are threaded throughout all aspects of care and
programming. Inherent in patient navigation is continuous
quality care for patients from screening through diagnosis
and treatment, based on the following tenets:
– Culturally competent care
– Confidentiality
– Respect
– Compassion
– Patient safety
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The Patient Navigation Model
The Cancer Care Continuum
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Freeman HP, et al. Cancer Pract. 1995;3:19-30.
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Suitable for Many Health Care Settings
The navigation program:
– Is adaptable to different settings and needs
– Encourages compassion toward persons who are
being served
– Defines at what point a navigator is engaged and
what a navigator does
– Respects the confidentiality of the patients involved
– Is reliable so that patients and navigators in the
program can trust the information and help received
– Evaluates the effectiveness of the program
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Responsibilities of a Navigator
Meet with patients at point of suspicious finding
Identify any barriers or potential barriers to care
Streamline appointments and paperwork
Maintain open communication with health care providers,
caregivers, and patients
Assist in increasing access to culturally appropriate,
supportive care when and where possible
Link patients, caregivers, and families with appropriate
follow-up services
Maintain personal contact with patients throughout the
health care continuum and follow their progress
HANYS BCDP®. Breast Health Patient Navigator Program Resource Kit. Rensselaer,
NY: HANYS; 2002.
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Long Island College Hospital. Breast Health Navigator Program. Rensselaer, NY: HANYS; 2002.
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Characteristics of a Navigator
Preferably selected from the community of patients
being served
Compassionate with a sincere desire to help people
Understands the issues of financial, cultural, educational,
and social barriers to information and care in the patient
community
Can communicate effectively with patients, their families,
and health care providers
Is organized and can demonstrate creative problem-solving
solutions
Is highly resourceful and able to research resources
for patients
Freeman HP. Oncol Issues. 2004;5:44-46.
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Long Island College Hospital. Breast Health Navigator Program. Rensselaer, NY: HANYS; 2002.
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Possible Benefits of
Patient Navigation Programs
Improved coordination of high-quality care
Enhanced access to services for all populations
Removal of barriers to care
More efficient delivery of care
Improved outcomes
Improved sharing of resources
Enhanced relationships with the community
Increased patient satisfaction
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Conclusion
Patient navigation eliminates barriers to enable individuals
with a suspicious finding to receive timely diagnosis
and treatment
Patient navigation keeps patients from falling through
the cracks
Patient navigation programs exist across the United States
and Canada
US legislation signed into law in support of patient navigation
programs
Patient navigation can be of great benefit to [Name of
our organization]
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