Rob Winn, Director at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared on LinkedIn:
“This week offers an opportunity to celebrate some of the most critical people in cancer care: patient navigators.
Our patient navigators here at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center become a support system for not only the patients, but for family and loved ones. They are a critical piece of the puzzle to ensuring that everything from scheduling doctor’s appointments to making informed decisions about treatment plans are completed during patients’ journeys.
In the last 30 years, we have made significant strides in the fight against cancer as evidenced by 36% fewer people dying from cancer, and a crucial part of that is supported by the developments in patient navigation and access.
I’m proud to be the co-director of and have Massey serve as the National Program Office for the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, a network of more than 200 cancer navigators coordinating care for thousands of patients and their families across the nation. This initiative focuses on improving access to cancer care and patient navigation with eight program sites across the country. Navigation has been in place for more than 30 years, but the Alliance sets itself apart with a deep emphasis on making community partnerships.
I encourage you to learn more by reading this article published in the Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship (JONS), the first in a 10-part series highlighting the work of the Alliance.
Also, check out the Real Cancer Talk podcast episode with Marcie S. Wright, deputy director for the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, and Sharon Gentry, MSN, RN, editor-in-chief of JONS, on the importance of patient navigation.”
More posts featuring Rob Winn.