What is patient navigation?
Patient navigation is our system for helping people overcome all obstacles on the path to receiving timely cancer screening, treatment and supportive care. We assign everyone who walks through our doors a patient navigator—their personal guide, advocate and problem-solver.
Our patient navigators are trained to tackle a wide range of challenges.
What kinds of things do patient navigators help with?
• eliminating barriers to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment
• bridging cultural and linguistic barriers
• finding financial resources
• tracking of appointments
• coordinating transportation services
• and much more
They are there when it’s important.
What makes a good patient navigator?
• culturally attuned to diverse communities
• good communicators
• sensitive and compassionate
• experts at navigating the health care system
• connected to the people who make important health care and financial decisions
In June 2007, the Amgen Foundation awarded The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care & Prevention $2.5 million to open the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Training Institute. Amgen’s generous gift will allow individuals to train and become certified in the Harold P. Freeman model of Patient Navigation. It will also create a national database for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information regarding best navigation practices. The training institute is open to all individuals interested in becoming Patient Navigators. To ensure that health care facilities which serve medically underserved communities across the country have full access to the training, the institute will selectively award grants to cover tuition, travel and food expenses. For more information on the Institute please visit their website at http://www.hpfreemanpni.org/
Additional Reading
The Origin and Evolution of the Patient Navigator Program
