Patient navigators in Georgia now have a statewide
organization to turn to for education, resources, and networking.
The society, Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia (CPNG), began in
2009 after the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology (GASCO)
surveyed self-identified patient navigators about their interest in
such an organization. With just 30-days' notice, more than 100
individuals attended an educational and organizational conference.
GASCO received a $10,000 state affiliate grant from ASCO that went
toward the direct expenses of these activities.
"The idea for a state navigator society was stimulated by the
collaborative environment among all cancer providers in Georgia,"
says radiation oncologist Matthew Mumber, MD, who
was GASCO president when it received the state affiliate grant. He
adds that the state's collaborative environment was established
through the Georgia Cancer Coalition, which was funded by state
dollars from the tobacco settlement fund.
Dr. Mumber says that patient navigation will be a "key part of
the system" in the multidisciplinary cancer center being opened
this spring by his own practice, the Harbin Clinic in Rome,
Georgia. "Our hypothesis is that patient navigation will improve
compliance with recommendations that are evidence-based and simple
to outline, yet hard for patients to implement, such as diet and
lifestyle changes."
Patient Navigation-A New and Evolving Field
"The real work of the patient navigator is to facilitate access
to quality medical care by identifying and bridging gaps and
reducing barriers to care," says Gail McCray, MA,
a community health educator at Morehouse School of Medicine in
Atlanta and cochair of the new organization, along with
Deborah Kemp, NP, of Savannah.
Noting that the terminology for and definitions of patient
navigators and community health workers continue to evolve, Ms.
McCray says there is now stronger recognition of their role in
improving health outcomes along the continuum of care. "Patient
navigators are valuable resources for patients and providers-from
primary prevention to postdiagnosis and survivorship. They can be
social workers, community health workers, nurses, survivor
volunteers, or others."
New Society Can Help Navigation Services
Proliferate
CPNG will be a resource for communities, oncology practices, and
institutions across the state that want to start a cancer patient
navigation program, according to Ms. Kemp, a nurse practitioner at
the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion in
Savannah. "Maybe what has worked at one center can be adopted at
another," she says. Both Ms. McCray and Ms. Kemp note that the new
organization for cancer patient navigators might also serve as a
model for those in other disease areas such as diabetes and
asthma.
The society has about 140 people who have signed up to be
members. CPNG's organizers decided early on to be inclusive,
embracing individuals providing clinical, psychosocial, and
financial services to oncology patients across the continuum of
care.
CPNG's mission is to "connect, educate, and share best practices
among patient navigators in Georgia." Ms. Kemp says that developing
educational programs is a priority for the society right now.
Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River, with
159 counties and numerous single-hospital and multihospital
systems. "We have to consider, statewide, where members are located
and plan for that in providing education," Ms. Kemp points out.
In 2010, CPNG held a well-attended educational meeting during
GASCO's annual meeting-the first state affiliate annual meeting to
use a physician educational program based on Best of ASCO®. CPNG
will hold its annual educational track concurrently with the GASCO
annual meeting in 2011. This year, CPNG is identifying resources
throughout the state for use in collaborating on navigation for
patient referrals between cancer care communities and will also be
researching the role that a social media site may have in
networking and education for patient navigators.
For more information about patient navigation services in
Georgia, contact GASCO Director Karen Beard: karen.beard@gasco.us.
■
© 2011. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights
reserved.
