Navigating the medical maze

Hi Dian,

It has been a few years since I have read and commented here.  My dad was diagnosed with a Stage IV melanoma in June of 2007 and passed away in August of 2011.  Ironically enough, I had been hired to navigate melanoma patients by the hospital that I was working for in 2006.  I found the MPIP and found many wonderful people who were willing to tell me what patients needed from their navigator.  They also became a tremendous source of comfort to me when my dad was diagnosed and subsequently passed away. Being a primary caretaker for my dad, I really got to experience what it was like on the other side.  To wait for phone calls from docs, to try and figure out who I needed to call next and who had the answers for me.   I returned to my position after his death more committed than ever to navigating my patients and being available to help them through the maze that we call healthcare.   

I came back to the MPIP because it's still for me the pulse of what is going on in melanoma.  I can see what patients and their families are experiencing and I learn so much.  On a personal level, I read for my dad and hope and pray for all of those who are fighting. 

The new 2012 Commission on Cancer standards require that oncology patients have access to patient navigation. While there are not specific guidelines yet that govern this, any hospitals and cancer programs have navigation programs in place that will assist patients and there is not a charge for this service unlike the site above which is a private business which does charge.  I would encourage anyone who is interested in knowing more about navigation or in seeing if there is an ONN (Oncology Nurse Navigator) in your area to go to http://www.NCONN.org.  They have a patient section that you will find informative and helpful. 

Kathleen

Hi Dian,

It has been a few years since I have read and commented here.  My dad was diagnosed with a Stage IV melanoma in June of 2007 and passed away in August of 2011.  Ironically enough, I had been hired to navigate melanoma patients by the hospital that I was working for in 2006.  I found the MPIP and found many wonderful people who were willing to tell me what patients needed from their navigator.  They also became a tremendous source of comfort to me when my dad was diagnosed and subsequently passed away. Being a primary caretaker for my dad, I really got to experience what it was like on the other side.  To wait for phone calls from docs, to try and figure out who I needed to call next and who had the answers for me.   I returned to my position after his death more committed than ever to navigating my patients and being available to help them through the maze that we call healthcare.   

I came back to the MPIP because it's still for me the pulse of what is going on in melanoma.  I can see what patients and their families are experiencing and I learn so much.  On a personal level, I read for my dad and hope and pray for all of those who are fighting. 

The new 2012 Commission on Cancer standards require that oncology patients have access to patient navigation. While there are not specific guidelines yet that govern this, any hospitals and cancer programs have navigation programs in place that will assist patients and there is not a charge for this service unlike the site above which is a private business which does charge.  I would encourage anyone who is interested in knowing more about navigation or in seeing if there is an ONN (Oncology Nurse Navigator) in your area to go to http://www.NCONN.org.  They have a patient section that you will find informative and helpful. 

Kathleen