Title: Reading: (U2 M4) Keeping Costs Down with Patient Navigators
Course: SkillsCom CMA 200 15.0 > Section: Unit 2 Module 4

A patient navigator is a member of the healthcare team who helps patients “navigate” the healthcare system and get timely care. Navigators help coordinate patient care, connect patients with resources, and help patients understand the healthcare system. Patient navigators work in many areas of healthcare. Many have one chronic disease focus area such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.

Despite many important efforts to increase equity in the US health care system, not all Americans have equal access to health care or similar health outcomes. With the goal of lowering costs and increasing accessibility to healthcare, the nation's new health care reform legislation includes certain provisions that expand health insurance coverage to uninsured and underinsured populations, promote medical homes, and support coordination of care. These provisions may help narrow existing health care disparities. Many of the most vulnerable patients, however, may continue to have difficulty accessing and navigating the complex US health care delivery system. The unique role of patient navigators may play a role in improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities, as well as other underserved populations, in the context of a changing healthcare environment. Patient navigators can not only facilitate improved healthcare access and quality for underserved populations through advocacy and care coordination, but they can also address deep-rooted issues related to distrust in providers and the health system that often lead to avoidance of health problems and noncompliance with treatment recommendations. By addressing many of the disparities associated with language and cultural differences and barriers, patient navigators can foster trust and empowerment within the communities they serve.

Read all 2 articles.

This link will take you to an CNN article written in 2013 by Jacque Wilson: Helping Patients Navigate the Health Care System

This link will take you to an article written by Familias en Accion titled: Patient Navigation