Cancer Nurse Navigators

yellowrose

Cancer Nurse Navigators

yellowrose

I just read an article in today's paper about cancer nurse navigators.  These folks help cancer patients from the point of diagnosis all throughout treatment and makes sure that all treating doctors are kept in the loop regarding information updates.  Has anyone on the boards used the services of one to negotiate the swift and tricky waters of cancer treatment?  They sound like a god-send.  I sure could have used one.

nosurrender

I wish!

Both times around with my cancers I was doing all the fighting. I sounds like an awesome idea.

I know that my insurance company had someone who checked in on me when I was first dx'd in 2001 but they didn't do that this time around.

When I think of how worn out we get and then we are asked to fight the docs and the insurance companies, a nurse that handles all the BS would be a GREAT THING. 

Anonymous

Both my onc's nurse and my onc NP made sure that everything stayed coordinated and everyone was kept informed throughout my entire treatment, but they didn't have that title. It's just how they do the team approach at UNC Hospitals. I am very grateful for all that they did in that regard, even if it was their job.

~Marin

Jellydonut

This actually is not a brand new idea, but one that is finally catching on.  In 2003,  the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center in Harlem initiated the Navigator Program for their cancer patients.  It is part of Sloan Kettering. 

The Center came to fruition through the efforts of an Africian American cancer surgeon who asked Ralph Lauren if he would be interested in donating money for this needed venture.  Mr. Lauren donated 5 million dollars and the rest is history.

The navigators was the surgeon's idea and a very good idea that is greatly needed by the rest of us.

Here's the link to the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center:

http://www.ralphlaurencenter.org/about_director.asp?langid=1

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/13348.cfm

It talks about the navigators.

chemo072

OHSU has that program too I think.  Nurse Martha or some such, if I'm remembering their ads correctly.  (Oregon Health Sciences University)

iodine

As a nurse case manager/independent consultant/rehab nurse for catastrophic injury cases, that's part of what I did--help the  patient and family thru the maze and make sure all the providers were on the same page and had the same info.

It was so helpful to be able to offer a choice of providers in each field because I knew them and had worked with them in the past.  It made it easier to introduce them to the patient and ins.adjuster and be able to back up my recommendations with good results.

I could also put the brakes on when the client was NOT getting good care and offer alternatives.

It helps the ins. adjusters too, they are given accurate information and I was able to make the client a PERSON instead of a number, and educate the adjuster about medical needs and when to spend the bucks to save money later.

It was a fun job for a long time.  But burn out does happen to all of us.

yellowrose

I did some reading up on the navigators.  Most everything I could find related to big cancer centers.  So many cancer patients fall into the cracks on healthcare, even when covered by health insurance.  It's such a shame.  All cancer patients should have access to the same excellent healthcare, regardless of whether they live in surburban or rural areas. 

I'm going to tackle my healthcare provider when I get back home after the New Year about this navigator program.  It's my first New Year's resolution!