What are patient navigators doing, for whom, and where? A national survey evaluating the types of services provided by patient navigators

Abstract

The selection and training of patient navigators should reflect the specialization required for a position.

In their own words: patient navigator roles in culturally sensitive cancer care

“…Willis et al’s framework describes similarities and differences across navigator types [ 4 ]. Subsequent work has defined major tasks of navigators and articulated core competencies [ 5 – 7 ]. Regardless of background, navigators work to decrease fragmentation and address barriers to care [ 4 – 9 ].…”

“…Regardless of background, navigators work to decrease fragmentation and address barriers to care [ 4 – 9 ]. Navigators who are licensed social workers can provide psychosocial support and psychotherapy [ 4 , 5 ]. Nurse navigators can coordinate clinical care [ 4 , 5 ].…”

RE-AIM Evaluation of a Multilevel Decision Support and Navigation Intervention for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Hispanic Primary Care Patients

“…Future research should focus on streamlining the phone calls, given that the average time exceeded 30 minutes. This model could be translated to other settings through the utilization of curriculum and development of navigator competencies, particularly to address health disparities (Wells 2018).…”

Findings from the National Navigation Roundtable: A call for competency‐based patient navigation training

“…Such core competencies should articulate a patient navigation skill set that transcends the degree or type of clinical training. At a minimum, those conducting patient navigation should be competent in the assessment and surmounting of barriers to quality care because this is a fundamental principle of patient navigation …”

“…At a minimum, those conducting patient navigation should be competent in the assessment and surmounting of barriers to quality care because this is a fundamental principle of patient navigation. 29 Contributing to the heterogeneity of navigation training programs is the challenge of the economics and sustainability of navigation. Early navigation programs received grant funding, which created a very narrow focus of training of the navigation workforce toward a particular group of patients or a specific disease.…”