The survey, completed by 100 healthcare providers—many of them patient navigators and nurses—found that nearly half of respondents had both a navigation and survivorship program at their institution. Full-time navigators had an average patient load of 100-400 patients, in various phases of the cancer continuum of screening, diagnosis, treatment, and posttreatment. Respondents identified a wide range of measurements and tracking tools, with a heavy reliance on low-tech options. The greatest challenge area identified was a lack of funding. While demonstrating value was seen as a way to sustain navigation programs, nearly 60 percent of respondents were not tracking value at all. Additionally, role clarity was cited as an important challenge.
The research found that patient navigators assisting patients during screening may be able to navigate a significantly greater number of patients annually than navigators assisting patients after diagnosis; and navigators supporting patients in treatment may need a smaller caseload than navigators supporting patients in other points of the continuum. The results also indicated a need to identify financially sustainable models for patient navigation and clinical survivorship programs, as well as a consensus on core measures.
“Our results provide critical insight into implementation practices as it relates to navigation and survivorship programs from institutions around the country,” said Anne Willis, M.A., director of the division of cancer survivorship at the GW Cancer Institute. “These findings will help health care professionals who are working to create and improve programs, where little guidance is available.”
Media: To interview an author of the paper, please contact Lisa Anderson at [email protected] or 202-994-3121.
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