A cancer patient navigator is an individual trained to help identify and resolve real and perceived barriers to care, enabling patients to adhere to care recommendations and thus improve their cancer outcomes.
The attachments below list Patient Navigator competencies from different organizations / sources. None fit every Patient Navigation program's needs (i.e., no one size fits everyone) and Patient Navigation programs need to select the competencies that are the best match for their local program.
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine recommended that quality care is measured using a core set of metrics. The Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN+) identified ~36 core competencies in 2017 that subsequently have been supported by national organizations, including but not limited to the:
These metrics are being used to evaluate whether patient navigation can improve outreach throughout end-of-life and overall value in healthcare. They also are being used as criteria for patient navigation accreditation certification and programs.
Navigation Load
Compliance
Patient /Participants Characteristics
Referrals
Diagnosis & Treatments
Hospital
Surveys
PN Characteristics
Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. Ensuring Quality Cancer Care. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. 1999. https://doi.org/10.17226/6467 accessed August 26, 2020
The Patient Navigator continues working with the patient from community interactions through the door of the clinical setting and in collaboration with members of the health care team within the clinic.
Community or Lay Patient Navigator
Licensed Nurse or Social Work Navigator
Peer Educator or Advisor
Promotores de Salud
Lay Health Advisor
Community Health Worker
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