A Partner in Health: How Patient Navigators Empower and Support Patients
Posted August 19, 2024 by Sandy Kohut, RRT, Lead Lung Navigator
Imagine navigating a health system during a stressful time, like a new diagnosis or chronic illness. That’s where patient navigators come in—they act as personal guides to help patients receive the best possible care at Summa Health.
Patient navigators bridge the gap between our patients and the medical system. Although their backgrounds vary, they all deeply understand the healthcare landscape and are passionate about patient advocacy.
Patient navigators have especially been successful in overcoming barriers to care and decreasing the time from detection to diagnosis of lung cancer. Navigators work in conjunction with the Summa Lung Nodule Clinic, cardiothoracic surgery office, radiology department and multiple other provider offices. The lung program navigators have helped thousands of patients receive timely care.
Patient navigators wear many hats, but their core function is to overcome barriers to care while empowering patients and offering personalized care and connection to their providers. Here are ways they positively impact patients:
Improved communication
- Navigators act as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers.
- They communicate recommendations between multiple providers, ensuring the right tests are performed at the right time while reducing unnecessary testing or procedures.
- Navigators develop relationships with community providers and assist with overcoming barriers to accessing care through Summa Health.
Empowerment through education
- Navigators like those in our lung nodule program are with patients every step of the way, from detection to diagnosis. They translate medical terms and explain tests and procedures so patients know what to expect.
- Navigators provide evidence-based educational resources, allowing patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare and treatment choices.
Care Coordination
- Navigators assist with coordinating the timing of diagnostic testing and specialist consultations, ensuring providers have all the information they need to make treatment decisions at patient appointments.
- They also assist with coordinating follow-up appointments preventing patients from being lost to follow-up.
- Often, navigators have developed connections within other departments which enhances the ability to expedite follow-up when clinically indicated.
- In the lung nodule program, once a cancer diagnosis is established, lung navigators transfer care to an oncology navigator who continues to seamlessly provide navigation through the cancer journey.
Emotional Support
- A diagnosis such as lung cancer can be overwhelming. Navigators offer emotional support and connect patients with resources to help them cope with the challenges of illness.
By guiding patients through the complexities of medical care, they empower individuals, improve health outcomes and contribute to a more efficient healthcare system for everyone.
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