Compared with other healthcare professions, patient navigation is still a relatively new discipline. Thus, significant confusion remains regarding the role, scope of practice, and ideal training and credentials for patient navigators.
Oncology care has gotten so complicated and sophisticated in the last decade or so that we only talk about treatment and what is the next drug available for treatment and what line of therapy will the patient next be receiving.
Patient-centered communication is effective communication that considers the information needs of patients and is sensitive to socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Gone are the days that health insurance covers all of the expenses associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Though screening tests remain free without a deductible or co-payment, once someone has a suspicious finding, there will be out of pocket expenses to be incurred by the patient.
It was a delight to visit the North Texas AONN+ chapter in May to see how well they are doing and to rejuvenate with the excitement of peer to peer support. If the enthusiasm and energy from the conversations throughout the room could be bottled, fatigue would be cured!
