Patient Navigation Promotion and Support Across the Cancer Continuum

Authors:

Debbie Webster (Presenter)
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Public Health Statement: Patient Navigators can impact cancer care by reducing the barriers to cancer screening, diagnostics, treatment and survivorship care

Purpose: As the body of evidence around patient navigation grew, the state of Michigan hired a patient navigation consultant to integrate patient navigation into its CDC funded cancer programs.

Methods/Approach: The cancer patient navigation consultant has become an embedded expert on the specific issues related to breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and the implementation of patient navigation programming. This has allowed the integration of patient navigation into screening programs. In addition, the cancer patient navigation consultant has learned the specifics of clinic and hospital based navigation. Consultation is provided on system and policy change for navigation programming in provider offices and health systems. Support is also provided to navigators across Michigan.

Results: The cancer patient navigation consultant has built patient navigation into cancer grants including Breast and Cervical, Colorectal, Comprehensive Cancer Control and Cancer Survivorship. In the Breast and Cervical Program, navigation starts with outreach and continues into survivorship. In the Colorectal Program, navigation starts with outreach and continues until the client is enrolled in treatment, if necessary. Through the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, technical assistance is provided to health systems on the implementation or expansion of navigation for treatment and through survivorship

Conclusions/Implications: There are many ways that states can support the development of patient navigation. Michigan’s approach has included a focus on policy and system change in provider offices, clinics, and health systems.