After a great night out on the town, guests of AONN+’s East Coast Regional Meeting got right to work on Sunday morning. Meeting Chair Sharon Gentry, RN, MSN, CBCN, CBEC, greeted the audience with a recap of the prior day. She then provided an overview of the activities for the last day.
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Navigating the Labyrinth of Oncology Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are a mystery for many people, but thanks to Wendy Portier, MSN, RN, CCM, CHRC, CHC, CPHQ, hundreds of oncology navigators are now “in the know.” During her highly educational presentation, she covered the reasons for clinical trials, their importance, and benefits.
“Sixty percent of children under the age of 15 with childhood cancers participate in clinical trials,” remarked Portier in talking about the success of childhood cancer survivorship.
She also discussed the reasons why people take part in clinical trials and the barriers to participation. When asked by an audience member what is the best time to talk to patients about clinical trials, “as early as possible,” answered Portier. “But it’s a process.”
Portier then focused on the navigator’s role in promoting clinical trials. “Insurance coverage is a challenge,” remarked Portier. She followed up by offering guidance on how to locate a clinical trial, assess insurance coverage for participants, and work with the clinical trial team to ensure compliance.
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Demonstrating Your Value
Value is a subject with which navigators continue to wrestle. During her presentation, Cheryl Bellomo, MSN, RN, OCN, talked about the latest findings on the value of navigation and the metrics that exist to measure the profession.
“Metrics lack specification to navigation,” stated Bellomo. “You need to measure what you utilize.”
She provided audience members with guidance on choosing the appropriate metrics — from navigation and patient experience to clinical and business outcomes.
Bellomo also discussed the importance of navigators getting involved in clinical trials. She closed with a case study about how one program used metrics successfully.
During the question and answer session, one audience member commented about the possibility of AONN+ developing a metrics database that could be shared.
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Navigation Process Development and CoC Compliance
During his highly informational presentation, Frederick L. Greene, MD, talked about Commission on Cancer (CoC) Standard 3.1 (Patient Navigation Process) and walked audience members through the requirements for accreditation. “You can get equal care at your cancer center if it is certified,” stated Greene. He presented a slide showing the various CoC member organizations, pointing out that AONN+ is a member of the CoC.
“One of the areas I would like to see you [navigators] get into is goal-setting,” said Greene.
From a newsworthy standpoint, Greene reported that the CoC will not be categorizing lobular carcinoma in situ as cancer beginning in 2017, which Greene believed would be helpful to patients.
He also discussed the Rapid Quality Reporting System, detailing what it is and why it is valuable in helping programs meet this particular standard.
Greene closed his presentation by highlighting the American College of Surgeons Patient Education and Skills Kits, and how the kits can help nurse and patient navigators in their job. These kits can be accessed here.
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Mind/Body Connection and Self-Care
Nancy Gordon, PhD, closed the educational portion of the meeting by exploring the powerful connection between the mind and body. She talked about how a person’s thoughts can both harm and heal them.
Gordon surveyed the audience and asked if a thought ever affected the body? And after a show of hands, she gave some good examples of when it happens.
She emphasized that, by being aware of how the mind and body interact, people can make mental changes that will create health and balance.
She challenged navigators to look through the lens of mind and body together. And she told the audience that people need to get away from negative thoughts and think about what is working for them.
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Sharon Gentry took the stage once again to provide an overview of the day, thank attendees for coming, and encourage everyone to join her in Las Vegas in November 2016 for the Seventh Annual AONN+ Navigation & Survivorship Conference. This marked the close of the inaugural East Coast Regional Meeting.
Thank you to all of our sponsors and exhibitors!
