Private Health Plan Operator: Breast Care Navigation Program and Care Line

Abstract

Objective: to develop a navigation program for patients in the breast care line, beneficiaries of a private health plan operator. Method: a convergent care research study, related to the stages of the Guide for the Development and Implementation of Patient Navigation Programs, consisting of the phases: diagnosis; planning; implementation; and evaluation, using instruments specifically designed for each phase. It was conducted from January to September 2022 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Results: during the diagnosis, the patients' demographic profile was identified and the flow they followed through the health services was analyzed. Interviews were carried out with the professionals involved in patient care, and the main barriers that might be faced by patients were surveyed. In planning, the program structure was considered. During implementation, a navigation pilot was carried out with two nurses from different areas; and the nurse navigators' performance profile and a proposal of topics for team training were constructed. An evaluation was carried out using the Plan, Do, Study and Act tool at the end of each stage. A breast care line and navigation program were created for the patients. Conclusion: two products were developed: Planned Care Line, with important prevention actions favoring screening and early diagnosis of the disease; and the Navigation Program for line assistance, in which attention is centered on the patients, with an evaluation of their needs, elimination of barriers that make it difficult for them to navigate the health system and guidance in each stage of the path.