"The most important role of our patient navigator is to assure that any woman with a suspicious finding receives a timely diagnosis and treatment. Our full-time navigator accomplishes this most effectively through one-on-one contact," said MCGHealth Oncologist Dr. Thomas Samuel, who was instrumental in launching the program.
"What I immediately do for our patients is offer them support, especially emotional support at that particular moment," said Nicole Aenchbacher, MCGHealth’s Breast Cancer Patient Navigator. "From there, I extend my support to other aspects of their treatment, like making sure appointments are scheduled, tracking their progress, and making sure they understand the procedures they are having and why they are necessary in their continuum of care."
When patients call her with questions or concerns, the navigator helps to resolve them. "My background has helped me better understand the world of medicine, but it’s getting more complex to navigate because of new technologies and other healthcare advancements," said Aenchbacher, who has a decade of nursing experience in radiology and oncology combined. "If I can take away the stress of that complexity for my patients, then they can better deal with their diagnosis. I help remove any barriers to patient care."
Other navigator activities include providing patients with access to nutrition counseling and physical or emotional therapy, as well as facilitating clinical trials and building partnerships with local agencies and groups, such as breast cancer survivor and support groups. She might also help a patient find transportation, financial or childcare resources. And the navigator makes sure that the cancer care services offered through MCGHealth are accessible to all patients, especially those who may not have the advantage of a strong family or friend for support.
MCGHealth plans to expand the navigator program to help patients with other types of cancers as well. "Our navigators will help patients and their families find and make use of the various resources, treatment services and support services they need to receive the best cancer treatment possible," Dr. Samuel said. "Having navigators to help our patients deal with medical, financial and social concerns can help them conserve energy, allowing them to more strongly confront the cancers that have already changed their lives."
Nicole Aenchbacher
MCGHealth’s Breast Cancer Patient Navigator