...

You may have heard the term “patient navigator” used in various healthcare settings, but how do they fit in specifically at Atman?    

First, let me define what a patient navigator typically does.  According to the CDC, patient navigators “guide patients through the health care system and help them overcome barriers that prevent them from getting the care they need.”  They may also help patients set up appointments for medical visits or medical or help a patient get financial, legal, and social support. This type of care navigation may be seen in cancer or other clinic-based programs, insurance companies, employers, or as part of case management.  A care navigator is there to alleviate the stress of sorting through the ins and outs of a complex medical system and ensure the patient is getting the care they need and deserve to feel their best.   

At Atman, navigators play a far more central role in the achievement of clinical goals for every patient.  They are an integral complement to the physician, who focuses on tasks that are enabled by a medical license, including integrating clinical data to guide the selection and ordering of medications and diagnostic tests.  But that is only one part of what is needed for patient success.  Navigators are there to fill in all the gaps that arise from putting into practice complex multi-disease care plans.  We help to orient the patient to the program, answer any questions they may have, gather relevant information based on the programs they are participating in, relay any patient concerns back to the provider, provide the provider’s recommendations, coach through any hesitancy or barriers that are getting in the way of making the treatment recommendations happen and offer any additional support as needed.  We are here to walk alongside the patient to ensure they have a positive experience and meet their treatment goals successfully.   

Sarah M.