Clinical Education & Navigation
The vital role that “clinically based” patient navigation plays is to:
- help organize the vast amounts of clinical information
- ensure timely access to the care team i.e. physicians, psychosocial support, social worker, genetic counselor, etc.
- work with the physician team to ensure patient understanding of clinical information and treatment choices
- coach the patient though decisional conflicts and support informed medical decision making
- coordinate and streamline access to the different tests and procedures
- initiate discussion between the patient and their medical team regarding health and wellness during treatment i.e. exercise and nutrition
- identify non medical resources and connect the patient to secondary navigators to ensure access to these needed services
Andre Center navigators do not:
- Give medical advice
- Take the place of physicians who are specially trained to treat breast cancer
- Go against standard of care physician recommendations
- Interject any personal bias regarding diagnostic tests or treatment choices
“"Every newly diagnosed breast cancer patient needs a guiding light shining through the foggy first days and weeks following the shocking news. The services that were provided through a nurse breast specialist was that beacon for me. Her educational information, guidance and caring way were a lifesaver!"”
Jeanne Cumings, Diagnosed at 54