Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sibley Memorial Hospital
Pamela Goetz is a survivorship navigator at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, where she navigates neuro-oncology patients and caregivers, supports survivorship efforts, manages various educational and integrative health programs, and assists with the management of the hospital’s Commission on Cancer accreditation. Over the past 10 years, she has worked in hospitals and for a national advocacy organization in patient outreach and education, supporting the patient voice and self-advocacy.
The role of the navigator along the continuum of care is bidimensional in nature with a patient-centered (empowerment with education and knowledge) and health system (multidisciplinary) orientation to deliver timely, seamless care. Within the multidisciplinary team, the navigator works as an advocate, care provider, educator, counselor, and facilitator to ensure that every patient receives comprehensive, timely, and quality healthcare services.
The scope of navigation has evolved from the Freeman model of community outreach and prevention to spanning the entire continuum of care for oncology patients. Navigators help individuals overcome barriers to care and navigate through the screening/diagnostic, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care continuum.
The case study for this discussion highlights the complexities of care coordination when patients arrive unprepared physically or mentally for the recommended medical treatments as determined by guidelines. It also shows how navigators can assemble needed care team players to efficiently guide the patient through prehabilitation and preparation for medical treatment.
Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sibley Memorial Hospital
