Comments for Patient Navigator http://patientnavigator.com/blog Patient and Medical Advocates to Guide Your Journey Through Illness Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:46:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Hospital Infections – Stay Safe! by Karen Curtiss http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/07/14/prevent_hospital_infections/comment-page-1/#comment-567 Karen Curtiss Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:46:55 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=417#comment-567 We have designed and developed a Care Partner Program for hospitals which provides patients' families with our checklists bundled with the products they need to help hospital staff prevent Never Events, especially hospital acquired infections of all kinds. We recruited two hospitals to participate in a beta test of our program, scheduled for this past spring. Funded by a Discovery Grant from Medline, costs to the hospitals would be zero... and they had a chance to zero out Never Events with our help over a three month test. Win-win right? In each case, the hospital eventually backed out due to internal politics and personal agendas-- even though the test was sanctioned at the top. What was most discouraging is that one of the hospitals is a Planetree hospital, a "patient centered" care facility. So, yes, Pronovost is spot on right...and then some. We have designed and developed a Care Partner Program for hospitals which provides patients’ families with our checklists bundled with the products they need to help hospital staff prevent Never Events, especially hospital acquired infections of all kinds. We recruited two hospitals to participate in a beta test of our program, scheduled for this past spring. Funded by a Discovery Grant from Medline, costs to the hospitals would be zero… and they had a chance to zero out Never Events with our help over a three month test. Win-win right? In each case, the hospital eventually backed out due to internal politics and personal agendas– even though the test was sanctioned at the top. What was most discouraging is that one of the hospitals is a Planetree hospital, a “patient centered” care facility. So, yes, Pronovost is spot on right…and then some.

]]> Comment on Enjoy Your Valentine’s Chocolate! by Taylor Reid http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/02/14/valentines-chocolate/comment-page-1/#comment-565 Taylor Reid Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:36:49 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=281#comment-565 i love to eat dark chocolate because it is very tasty and it is full of antioxidants too;-, i love to eat dark chocolate because it is very tasty and it is full of antioxidants too;-,

]]> Comment on Becoming a Patient Navigator by Tina Ketah http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2009/04/09/becoming-a-patient-navigator/comment-page-1/#comment-564 Tina Ketah Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:06:38 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=51#comment-564 Greetings. I am a patient navigator in Alaska. I has a passion for people of colon cancer and their first degree relatives. I agree if you care for those patients that I feel that has fallen between the cracks or peatients that need navigating in the health care system a navigator makes a difference. I have receied formal training though Colorado University Hospital of their Patient Navigator Services. Here in Alaska there is a comprehensive program surrounding colorectal cancer and patient navigators doing outreach and local service. The Patient Navigator is a new concept in Alaska as well as all over the United States. Its very exciting. Greetings. I am a patient navigator in Alaska. I has a passion for people of colon cancer and their first degree relatives. I agree if you care for those patients that I feel that has fallen between the cracks or peatients that need navigating in the health care system a navigator makes a difference. I have receied formal training though Colorado University Hospital of their Patient Navigator Services.
Here in Alaska there is a comprehensive program surrounding colorectal cancer and patient navigators doing outreach and local service. The Patient Navigator is a new concept in Alaska as well as all over the United States. Its very exciting.

]]> Comment on Cancer and Depression by Jane Smith-Decker http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/03/17/cancer-and-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Jane Smith-Decker Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:28:07 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=326#comment-561 To recognize depression, the following symptoms may be present: - feelings of worthlessness - detachment or absence of emotional response - assumption of harmful behaviors or thoughts of suicide - avoidance of friends, social events, or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities - changes in sleeping or eating - irritability, bitterness or anger - forgetfulness or lack of concentration This list is not all inclusive. Symptoms lasting over six months are cause for concern. It can benefit caregivers to recognize warning signs of depression. Medication along with talk therapy can bring the most relief. If these symptoms are recognized or persist, it is best to ask the person to talk about how they are feeling and to empathize with them. Suggestions such as "I can feel your pain" are not entirely accurate because only the depressed person can know how they feel. "If you just..." is equally damaging. Acknowledging the person's feelings and listening attentively will help to draw the person out and lead the person to seek further help. To recognize depression, the following symptoms may be present:
- feelings of worthlessness
- detachment or absence of emotional response
- assumption of harmful behaviors or thoughts of suicide
- avoidance of friends, social events, or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- changes in sleeping or eating
- irritability, bitterness or anger
- forgetfulness or lack of concentration

This list is not all inclusive. Symptoms lasting over six months are cause for concern. It can benefit caregivers to recognize warning signs of depression. Medication along with talk therapy can bring the most relief. If these symptoms are recognized or persist, it is best to ask the person to talk about how they are feeling and to empathize with them. Suggestions such as “I can feel your pain” are not entirely accurate because only the depressed person can know how they feel. “If you just…” is equally damaging. Acknowledging the person’s feelings and listening attentively will help to draw the person out and lead the person to seek further help.

]]> Comment on Becoming a Patient Navigator – Update by blog http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/02/24/becoming-a-patient-navigator-2/comment-page-1/#comment-546 blog Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:32:40 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=299#comment-546 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) 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)

]]> Comment on Becoming a Patient Navigator – Update by Amy Conzone RN http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/02/24/becoming-a-patient-navigator-2/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Amy Conzone RN Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:27:09 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=299#comment-544 I am also looking for a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator Certification program. Thanks for any help! Amy I am also looking for a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator Certification program. Thanks for any help! Amy

]]> Comment on Becoming a Patient Navigator by blog http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2009/04/09/becoming-a-patient-navigator/comment-page-1/#comment-503 blog Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:29:55 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=51#comment-503 Hi Jana, in this article I've included a list of training opportunities of which I am aware. Hi Jana, in this article I’ve included a list of training opportunities of which I am aware.

]]> Comment on Becoming a Patient Navigator by Jana Frankel http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2009/04/09/becoming-a-patient-navigator/comment-page-1/#comment-497 Jana Frankel Sun, 30 May 2010 17:35:26 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=51#comment-497 I would love to become a part-time patient navigator on a as needed basis in the hospitals in SF. I will need to still work full time as a Cancer Register, but as a two time cancer survivor, and current ACTIVE volunteer for the ACS, I would appreciate resources to contact for training. Thanks, janafrankel7@yahoo.com I would love to become a part-time patient navigator on a as needed basis in the hospitals in SF. I will need to still work full time as a Cancer Register, but as a two time cancer survivor, and current ACTIVE volunteer for the ACS, I would appreciate resources to contact for training. Thanks, janafrankel7@yahoo.com

]]> Comment on Enjoy Your Valentine’s Chocolate! by Mason Parker http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2010/02/14/valentines-chocolate/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Mason Parker Tue, 25 May 2010 19:16:19 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=281#comment-491 Dark chocolate is my favorite kind of chocolate. Chocolates have some natural antioxidants too..,; Dark chocolate is my favorite kind of chocolate. Chocolates have some natural antioxidants too..,;

]]> Comment on A Cancer Diagnosis: 10 Things You Need to Know by dr michael http://patientnavigator.com/blog/2009/03/20/a-cancer-diagnosis-10-things-you-need-to-know/comment-page-1/#comment-474 dr michael Fri, 14 May 2010 23:13:22 +0000 http://patientnavigator.com/blog/?p=29#comment-474 I personally agree with this job. I have also been researching a lot about that. thanks again for this informative advice I personally agree with this job. I have also been researching a lot about that. thanks again for this informative advice

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