This post has been updated for 2011. Here is the link.
Since I first wrote on this topic in April 2009, many people have contacted us wanting to know more about patient advocate or navigator training programs or job opportunities. Here is a February 2010 update.
Patient navigation/advocacy is a new and emerging field. It has come about because of the complexity, inefficiency and cost of the current American health care system. You probably saw from my website (www.patientnavigator.com) how I came to be a patient navigator (advocate, medical mentor, cancer coach) as a second career. You can also get a sense of the services we offer as well as the range of clients with whom we work.
The most exciting thing to happen in 2009 was the launch of The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (www.nahac.com) . I was elected as its Vice President and we held our inaugural conference November 14-15, 2009 in Berkeley, California. The next conference will be November 4-6, 2010 in Washington, D.C. and First Lady Michelle Obama is our invited keynote speaker. This professional association is the best way to get started in the field of patient advocacy. I strongly encourage those interested in the field to join (www.nahac.com).
There are several pieces in the “navigator” landscape.
An increasing number of hospitals in the U.S. and Canada employ navigators to help patients manage their hospital stays. Those hospitals usually require nursing degrees and frequently work with breast cancer patients (because there is funding available from private foundations such as Susan G. Komen).
The American Cancer Society trains navigators in some cities to work with underserved populations. They get funding, in part, from the NCI program to train navigators. http://tinyurl.com/ygll4ca
The National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute http://crchd.cancer.gov/pnp/pnrp-index.html is funding several patient navigator pilot projects across the U.S. in underserved and minority areas and trains navigators working in those projects. A Colorado hospital is one of those projects and they conduct training: http://patientnavigatortraining.org/index.htm
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is funding additional patient navigator positions staffed by nurses in some National Cancer Institute-sponsored community hospitals. To learn more about these job opportunities, see the following NCI article: “Patient Navigators Ensure Cancer Patients Get What They Need” January 25, 2010
http://www.cancer.gov/recoveryimpact/page5
Much of this work is based on the model set by Dr. Harold Freeman in Harlem to develop community-based navigator programs - http://www.hpfreemanpni.org/ They offer training to groups and non-profits seeking to work to narrow disparities in access to cancer care.
I hear often from folks around the country who want to become patient navigators/advocates. The most comprehensive training program I know of is an online training and certification launched by the University of Miami on September 11, 2009. It is called the Healthcare Advocacy Certificate Program. For complete information, visit http://tinyurl.com/lahzds or http://tinyurl.com/yghstk6
Separately, Sarah Lawrence College offers a Master’s degree in patient advocacy. http://www.slc.edu/graduate/programs/health-advocacy/index.html
I have learned of training at the University of Wisconsin at Madison for certificates in Consumer Health Advocacy http://www.patientpartnerships.org/certificate.php but have heard it will be up and running in the Summer of 2010.
Cleveland State University offers a Patient Advocacy Certificate Program. http://www.csuohio.edu/ce/certificates/health/pacp/index.html
The University of Phoenix has an online program to become a patient advocate: http://tinyurl.com/yjld3ln.
The President of Healthcare Liaison who is also the President of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (www.nahac.com), Joanna Smith, offers training workshops for how to become a patient advocate: http://healthcareliaison.com/workshops.html. Her workshops are open to anyone with an interest in the field but are a requirement for those considering the full Credentialing Program. The full credentialing program for medically trained people runs either 9 months ($2,500) or one year ($3,000). She refers non-medically trained people to the other programs in this paper.
In Fall 2010, the Integrative Medical Clinic Foundation and Sonoma State University in California will offer a Patient Navigator Certificate Program and expand the role by including an Integrative Health component. They are found at www.sonoma.edu/exed and then click on Patient Navigator.
Locally, in the Washington, D.C. area, the Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts offers community patient navigation training www.SmithFarm.com
Most of us who do this work come to it through our own experiences dealing with the health care or elder care system (whether as a patient, caregiver, nurse, social worker, etc.) In most cases, there is no specific background or education that is required. I have found that a passion for helping others, good research, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills as well as the ability to be creative in finding resources and solving problems are what it takes.
Patient advocate Trisha Torrey recently wrote an excellent article about job prospects for patient navigators/advocates. You can read it here:
http://patients.about.com/od/caringforotherpatients/a/patientadvocatejobs.htm
Here is a link to a separate guide published by Trisha Torrey about setting up an advocacy business: http://patients.about.com/b/2009/03/31/start-a-patient-advocacy-business.htm
In order to connect folks throughout the U.S. who are interested in this field, I have formed a virtual “Patient Navigator” working group through LinkedIn, the professional networking site. Please consider joining our virtual group as we collaborate to build this profession. All you need to do is go to www.linkedin.com set up a profile and then ask to join the Patient Navigator group. Please include an explanation of why you’d like to join the group. It’s a good way to stay in touch and make contacts.
Elisabeth Russell, Founder and President, Patient Navigator, LLC
Updated March 16, 2010
[...] For an update to the original post below, please look at the update of February 24, 2010 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/02/24/becoming-a-patient-navigator-2/ As many of you have observed, “patient navigation” is a new and emerging field which [...]
I am looking for Canadian sites offering training/certification in Cancer Patient Navigation. I am appyling for a job and would like to know more about this. Thank-you for your reply.
I am also looking for a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator Certification program. Thanks for any help! Amy
Amy, for breast cancer look into the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation training in New York and also the National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators (www.nconn.org)
I have been a nurse navigator for 8 years and have set up two breast cancer navigation programs at 2 community hospitals. I am also the Founding President of the National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators. I have developed a nurse navigator program start-up package and can help to train anyone who is interested in learning how to become a nurse navigator.
Currently, the Freeman training program does not train nurse navigators and basically offers training for lay navigators. Lay navigation is a critical role but cannot convey the medical advocacy and education that a health care professional brings to the patient and family.
I believe strongly in the value that navigation brings to the patient and am happy to talk with anyone who would like to learn more about becoming a patient navigator.
Tina,
I am very interested in speaking with you re: pt liaison/navigator roles, opportunities and training for myself. You can reach me via email or cell ph at 813-716-6762. I am a former critical nurse with an extensive background in hospital staffing of all levels of healthcare professionals. I have navigated the “system” for both parents and my husband, have a solid knowledge of hospitals, finances (payor sources) etc. I’m looking for a second career to build from my prior experiences. Thanks for any thoughts or input! Pat
Tina,
I would also like to speak to you- I am an oncology nurse, and have been a navigator for just 3 months and I am trying to develop a program here. I work in a community hospital, there isn’t a cancer center here either so I am having a hard time getting referrals. and would love to get access to your start up package and get some advide on starting upa program. if you could contact me I’d greatly appreciate it!
Tina,
I am an RN with a BSN with over 20 years of medical experience in various venues. My hospital experience was specialized in high risk obstetrics.(early 80′s) It has been years since I’ve been a bedside nurse. While raising my children, I worked part-time, and per-diem in clinic settings, and some home health, but not highly skilled nursing. Nursing has changed over the years, and I am having difficulty trying to secure a position. Most positions will not hire if you do not have the specialty background. My most recent experiences was at Holy-Cross Hospital in Florida for three years in Occupational Health as a Workman’s Compensation RN and Employee Health Nurse. I realized what I like most about this position and my past experiences are patient education, coordinating care, and consulting with professionals.
When I discovered in a magazine article the position of “Patient Navigator,” a rush of excitement overwhelmed me, “this position fits me perfectly!” It brought all my skills together. I would love to work as a patient navigator in breast cancer, but I am not an oncology nurse. I do not have a specialty, but I do have women health experience as a GYN nurse, and my obstetrics background. I am unable to secure a position because I do not have the specialty, and if I apply for a hematology oncology nurse in a physician’s office, I do not have the IV skills especially chemotherapy infusion requirements. I am open to taking courses or programs to help me be more marketable. I would welcome any assistance, or advice you can offer. Thank you in advance.
Stephanie Cohen RN
[...] I first wrote on this topic in April 2009 and February 2010, things have moved quickly on multiple fronts. I receive frequent inquiries about training and [...]
Tina,
I would like to talk to you regarding your program start up kit. I can be reached via email or 215-614-1819
Are there any survivorship navigation certification programs out there yet?
I am not aware of certification programs for survivorship, but suggest you look into the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship at http://www.canceradvocacy.org/