Your Doctor Has a Team — Do You?

A healthy person has a thousand wishes; a sick person only has one.

The sickcare industry is a complicated industry by design, and navigating the system can feel overwhelming, especially when you or a loved one is already facing a health challenge. Every year, millions of people encounter confusing medical jargon and complex processes. For vulnerable populations, it can be the difference between life and death.

One way to make things better is through the help of "patient navigators." First introduced in cancer treatment settings in the early 1990s, the navigator model has since expanded to other areas. Yet, depending on where you live, you may have never heard them.

I first learned about patient navigators in the early 2000s at a regional health council meeting, where we discussed adding the role to hospital staff. Hospital administrators were hesitant – concerned that it would undermine the patient-doctor relationship. Imagine that!

What is a patient navigator?

A trained individual who helps patients and their families navigate the sickcare system. The 5 key responsibilities of patient navigators are: Education; Coordination of Care; Providing Emotional Support; Identifying Resources; and Patient Advocacy.

Patient navigators can be specially trained health professionals or community members known as "community health workers." In places where patient navigators are part of the care team, the results are impressive—patients feel more supported, report higher satisfaction, and are more likely to follow their treatment plans. Most navigators work in larger hospital systems, cancer centers, and safety-net hospitals serving underserved communities.

Recognizing the importance of this support, the 2010 Affordable Care Act required Health Insurance Marketplaces to establish and fund patient navigator programs. However, because "patient navigator" isn't yet an official job category, it's tough to know exactly how many are out there helping patients today.

But here’s the bottom line: Getting a diagnosis and treatment plan is only part of the journey. Making sense of your options and finding your way through the sickcare maze are equally important. And if you don’t have a “patient navigator” on your team, the consequences can be dire, as I’ve experienced firsthand with family members and friends more times than I can count.  

 So…think back—have you or someone you care about ever left a doctor’s office feeling more confused than when you arrived? Or been in a hospital room, uncertain about the next step, wishing someone was there to help figure things out? Can you really afford to leave your health — or the health of someone you love — to chance? No one should have to face these challenges alone, and with the right support, you don’t have to.

If you need help navigating the sickcare system, I’m here for you. Feel free to reach out at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.

Be informed; Be Well!

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