Patient Navigation

Over the past decade, the use of patient navigators has grown significantly across the country. While the impact of patient navigation is demonstrating improved patient outcomes, several fundamental issues have impeded its broader growth and limited the opportunity to assist more patients.

These issues include: varied definitions of patient navigation, the lack of uniform best practices, accreditation, role delineation, standardized evidenced-based metrics in the domains of return on investment, clinical outcomes and patient experience, and issues related to policy and payment.

To begin to address these issues, the Biden Cancer Initiative has convened a working group to identify barriers and implement solutions to more wide-spread use of patient navigation to improve patient care and outcomes.

OUR APPROACH

The current national landscape of patient navigation varies with how oncology professional groups define navigation, role definitions, role delineation, training, competencies, navigation program measurement, engagement of program leadership/administration, and navigation knowledge deficit among physicians and hospital leadership.

Goal: To create a plan that allows for implementation of patient navigation programs across the country.

WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

• CHAIR: Danelle Johnston, CNO, The Lynx Group, Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators
• Jennie Crew, M.D., Medical Director, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Network
• Monica Dean, Director, National Navigation Roundtable, American Cancer Society
• Crystal Duggar, AVP, Clinical Operations, Sarah Cannon
• Elizabeth Franklin, Executive Director, Policy & Advocacy, Cancer Support Community
• Beth High, Clinical Program Manager Navigation/Survivorship/NAPBC, University of Arizona
• Hope Krebill, Executive Director, Midwest Cancer Alliance, University of Kansas Cancer Center
• Clara Lambert, Oncology Financial Navigator, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
• Brenda Nevidjon, CEO, Oncology Nursing Society
• Katherine Rice, Director of Practice Operations, Central Aln B. Pearson Cancer Center
• Tricia Strusowski, Manager, Chartis Oncology Solutions

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