About Cancer Patient Navigators
What is a Patient Navigator?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines a patient navigator as a person who helps guide a patient through the healthcare system. This includes help going through the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a medical condition, such as cancer. A patient navigator helps patients communicate with their healthcare providers so they get the information they need to make decisions about their health care. Patient navigators may also help patients set up appointments for doctor visits and medical tests and get financial, legal, and social support. They may also work with insurance companies, employers, case managers, lawyers, and others who may have an effect on a patient’s healthcare needs. Patient navigators can also be called patient advocates.
Background
Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia (CPNG) was established in 2009 and is co-sponsored by Georgia CORE and the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology (GASCO). Georgia is one of the first states in the country to form a statewide multi-disciplinary organization for cancer patient navigators. Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia (CPNG) is comprised of individuals who serve people with all types of cancer, at all stages, in all types of settings. CPNG members have a diversity of education and training, but a shared mission: to connect, educate and share best practices among patient navigators in Georgia, as well as successfully reduce barriers and increase access to cancer-related services. CPNG became a Local Navigator Network (LNN) of The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) in 2019 and is the first in Georgia to become an LNN.
Mission
Our mission is to connect, educate and share best practices among patient navigators in Georgia so that together we can successfully reduce barriers and increase access to services specifically related to cancer
Vision
Patient navigation will play a consistent, defined and sustainable role for all Georgians throughout the cancer continuum to include prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end of life care.
Goals & Objectives:
- Build a shared sense of purpose
- Attract and sustain membership
- Identify the needs of CPNs and match them with resources
- Foster collaboration
- Share best practices
- Define the value of CPNs in affecting overall outcomes
- Bring clarity/structure to the role of CPNs in Georgia
- Educate target audiences about the significance of CPN
- Establish a statewide registry of cancer navigators
Guiding Principles:
Inclusiveness
CPNG includes individuals who serve people with all types of cancer, at all stages, in all types of settings, with a diversity of education and training, but a shared mission.
Competency
CPNG seeks to participate in defining the field of patient navigation with appropriate core competencies for navigators.
Collaboration
CPNG strives for excellence through a conscious effort to unite, connect, and share best practices through statewide communications and networking.
Compassion
CPNG shares a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.
Holistic Approach
CPNG believes that all aspects of people's needs -- psychological, physical, social and spiritual -- should be taken into account and seen as a whole.
Last Updated: 6/21/2021 8:50:28 AM