Making the Case for Head & Neck Cancer Patient Care Navigators — [PODCAST] EP 143

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Recent advancements in treatment and a multimodal approach to care are improving outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, however access to therapies and unique patient challenges due to disease symptoms, difficulty eating, difficulty communicating, and other psychosocial factors can reduce patient quality of life. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG, registered dietician and head and neck program navigator at Sharp Memorial Hospital and Brittney Watts, RN, head and neck patient care coordinator at Yale New Haven Hospital, about the importance of head and neck patient care navigation and how a dedicated navigator can help address these unique patient needs and improve care for patients with head and neck cancer.

“I think looking at it through the eyes of the physicians, the health insurance, the organization [cancer program], and looking at what are the patient outcomes, success rates, delays in care, survivorship...I think those are important metrics to monitor and we [as head and neck patient navigators] can let a program know whether the patient’s needs are being met.” –Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG

“Having a specific nurse coordinator for the head and neck community is vital to the patient’s journey within the entire process. This is the point person for the patient, for the providers, and you are the connection for the patient to the healthcare facility.” –Brittney Watts, RN

Guests:

Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG
Registered Dietician, Head & Neck Program Navigator
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, California

Brittney Watts, RN
Head & Neck Cancer Patient Care Coordinator
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut

This episode, developed in connection with the ACCC education program Multidisciplinary Approaches to Head and Neck Cancer Care, was made possible with support by EMD Serono.

Additional Reading/Sources

• Multidisciplinary Approaches to Head & Neck Cancer Care
• Head and Neck Patient and Caregiver Resources