As healthcare has become complex, where there used to be multiple resources and funding, there are gaps. As navigators, we need to reach out and get to know the local community.
Time, transportation, finances, and child care are just a few of the barriers Danelle Johnston feels overwhelm patients. Utilizing the community and creating partnerships with them can help eliminate some of these barriers.
Lillie Shockney affirms the importance of building strong relationships with the community in an effort to connect with those resources that are available to both patients and their caregivers. There may be resources available that we don't even realize exist, so we need to expand our reach.
How you pose a question greatly affects the response. Lillie provides advice on posing questions that identify what barriers are in the way of our patients receiving the resources they need.
According to Pamela Vlahakis, the number one benefit we can create is a national database of resources to address the many complexities of each patient's journey.
The multidisciplinary team model of care is a great starting point to develop a process around patients accessing adequate psychosocial support services.