Cancer Patient Navigators

By Sandra Cook, Project Manager, Patient Navigation Project, Cancer Care Nova Scotia

Last Updated: Feb 5, 2010
Articles & News : Articles : Support

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The numbers of Canadians living with cancer is growing exponentially with a staggering increase in prevalence of 70 % expected by the year 2015. (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2002). Effective ways to meet this ever-increasing demand for cancer services must be found and initiatives that improve key challenges to access, coordination and continuity of care need to be implemented. Initiatives such as patient navigation offer promise in meeting these challenges.  

Nova Scotia is in the premier leadership position in the development of Cancer Patient Navigation in Canada .  Patient Navigation is a community-based service providing education and supportive care to adults, children and families living with cancer.  It is currently a partnership program between Cancer Care Nova Scotia (CCNS) and 5 of the District Health Authorities. Cancer Patient Navigation is now available to patients and their families and physicians living in the following counties: Lunenburg, Queens , Shelburne, Yarmouth , Digby, Annapolis , Kings, Pictou, Guysborough, Antigonish, Richmond   and Inverness .  

A Patient Navigator is a health professional whose role is intended to expedite patient access to services and resources, improve continuity and co-ordination of care throughout the cancer continuum and better prepare and educate patients and families for the cancer journey. They are one of the first points of contacts for physicians and patients after a diagnosis of cancer. Referral to a Navigator may occur through physicians, by self/family referral or any health professional. A toll free number has been established to provide easy contact with the navigators. The toll free number is 1-866-524-1234. This number can be used if you are calling from one of those counties.  

Patient Navigation came about after consultation with patients, families, physicians and health professionals. Navigators assist cancer patients and their families through the cancer system by helping them find services and resources in their own community, improving coordination of visits to the cancer center and acting as a link between the treatment centre and their home community. Navigators contribute to the management of cancer through education, counseling and psychosocial support.  

The Patient Navigation model is a coordinated model with a central agency, CCNS, linking the navigators through weekly conferences and providing consistent orientation and continuing education. Common teaching plans and educational material are developed with the navigators and cancer programs and implemented by the navigators. Through CCNS the navigators receive current guidelines, care maps and research findings.  

In the process of developing the Patient Navigation program it became apparent to Cancer Care Nova Scotia (CCNS) that not all people were being reached, especially those individuals of diverse backgrounds. In an effort to assist with further development of Patient Navigation, CCNS commissioned two African Nova Scotian consultants to document the provincial experience of black communities with the cancer system. As a result of recommendations from the report entitled �Navigating the Cancer Care System: African Nova Scotians� Experience�, the position of Community Liaison was created. This position works with the African Nova Scotian communities to implement the recommendations from the report.  The Community Liaison role is also working with the Aboriginal and Immigrant communities to identify their unique needs and developing strategies to meet those needs.  

The Community Liaison introduces the Patient Navigator, explains their role, brings individual needs to the attention of the appropriate Patient Navigator and educates the Patient Navigator and health professionals about the unique needs of diverse communities.  

The Patient Navigators in the 3 original adopter sites have assisted over 900 patients and some 300 non-patients in 20 months of operation. Non-Patients include physicians, health professionals, family members, and community support groups. Navigators are continually striving to minimize the distress of the disease and maintain individuals� quality of life. Based on positive reaction to patient navigation and at the request of patients and physician, 2 other health districts, South Shore Health and Annapolis Valley Health have hired Patient Navigators. The official launch of these programs is September 23, 2003 in Annapolis Valley Health and September 24, 2003 in South Shore Health.  

Patient Navigators work in consultation with patients; families, physicians and the cancer centers to ensure individual�s care needs are appropriately and effectively addressed.  Navigators assess patients and their individual support networks by identifying challenges that may be unique to their particular situation or community.  Acting as advocates, Patient Navigators strive to ensure both patients and their families have timely access to care, appropriate education to assist patients with decision-making and awareness of the community support available.  

Stay tuned to future discussions around patient navigation when we will feature how the navigator fulfills this role on a daily basis.

Have comments about this article? We'd love to hear from you. Please email us at abcn@abcn.ca!