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Patient Navigation

The role of the patient navigator continues to evolve in tandem with the healthcare landscape’s emphasis on patient-centered, efficient, coordinated care.

In May 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published proceedings from a workshop held November 13-14, 2017, focused on improving the effectiveness of patient navigation in cancer care. Establishing Effective Patient Navigation Programs in Oncology addressed where patient navigation programs should be deployed in cancer care and which patients should be prioritized to receive navigation services when resources are limited. The workshop also discussed who should serve as navigators, the benefits of navigation, and current gaps in the evidence base. Access the proceedings.

Below are ACCC member-driven resources to help implement, assess, and expand patient navigation services.

From Oncology Issues

  • Improving Fertility Preservation Discussions for Adolescent and Young Adult Male Oncology Patients
    Jacqueline N. Casillas; Roy L. Kao; Joshua Macadangdang; Emma Lidington; Melody S. Hsu; Hilary Gan; Gavin D. Roach; Shivani Upadhyay; Neha G. Vaghasia; Joanna J. Gell; Elizabeth A. Van Dyne; Ning Li; Grace Sund; Theodore B. Moore
    Fertility preservation is an increasing concern for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer. However, not all newly diagnosed males discuss fertility preservation with a healthcare provider before treatment. This quality improvement project describes the oncofertility program development that was part of a larger goal to develop an AYA oncology program at our institution, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Mattel Children’s Hospital.
  • A Quality Initiative Improves the Treatment and Experience of Pediatric Radiation Oncology Patients
    By Rebecca Swanson, MSN, APRN; Debbie Wagers, MHA, CCLS; and Ann Yager, MHA, BS, RT(R)(T)
    Pediatric radiation oncology services are frequently housed in academic medical centers and referrals for therapy may come primarily from outside organizations. This quality improvement initiative highlights the importance of pediatric patient preparation and teaching, which ultimately leads to improved patient safety, a better experience for patients and caregivers, and better quality of life.
  • Making the Case for an HIV Oncology Clinic
    By Marco A. Ruiz, MD
    Though the incidence of AIDS-defining cancers (Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and invasive cervical carcinoma) has decreased with the use of antiretroviral therapy, numerous studies suggest that non-AIDS-defining cancers (cancers not previously associated with HIV and AIDS) appear to be increasing in incidence.
  • Patient Care Connect
    By Warren Smedley, MSHA, MSHQS, and Gabrielle B. Rocque, MD
    Though the concept of patient navigation is not new, the use of lay navigation teams across the continuum of a cancer journey is a novel approach to care coordination. Integrating lay navigators into the healthcare team empowers the clinical team to work at a higher level within the scope of their training.
  • Drug-Specific Videos for Patient Chemotherapy Education
    By James L. Weese, MD, FACS; Kerry A. Twite, RN, MSN, AOCNS; Marija Bjegovich-Weidman, RN, MSN, OCN; and Amy J. Bock, RN, BSN, OCN, MBA
    Long, written descriptions of chemotherapy and its side effects, particularly when prescribing multiple drugs, are often ignored by patients who are overwhelmed by their cancer diagnosis and treatment. From the perspective of the patients, it was clear that all patients needed basic information regarding chemotherapy, including how to react to different situations while on chemotherapy and specifics about the drugs they were going to receive.

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