Emanuel's New Heart Services Will Save Lives - Emanuel Medical ...

SUMMER 2010
Breast Health Navigator Helps Women through their Cancer Journey
When Patricia Montgomery had
an abnormal mammogram at the
Ruby E. Bergman Women’s Center, she
knew she was going to need more tests
and possibly treatment. She didn’t know
she would have someone by her side,
helping her through that process.
Meet Debbie Tuttle, Emanuel Regional
Cancer Services’ Breast Health Navigator.
For women who have – or may have –
breast cancer, Tuttle is part support person,
part advocate, part teacher, part guide
and all guardian angel.
“She took me under her wing,” said
Montgomery, 67, of Turlock. “She’s really
nice and helped me out a lot.”
Tuttle came to Emanuel this spring, when
the Breast Health Navigator position
was created.
“The navigator’s role is to facilitate
communication and coordination of care
from the moment a patient receives a
possible diagnosis of breast cancer,”
explained Dr. Christopher Perkins, the
medical director of Emanuel Regional
Cancer Services. “The first thing patients
want to know is, ‘Is it cancer, and if so,
what do I do next?’ The navigator helps
4
Navigator Debbie Tuttle (right) and breast cancer survivor
Sandy Bettencourt
the patient get those answers in a
smooth and timely manner.”
For Montgomery, Tuttle provided
support to help minimize the fear
and uncertainty as she moved
through the overwhelming schedule
of appointments and consultations.
“Working closely with patients, I
can assist with situations that might
cause delays in receiving timely
treatments,” Tuttle explained. “I can
help patients understand test results
and terminology, and ensure that patients
are able to share with their health care
team what is unique about their situation –
their preferences and priorities – which
is an important part of making
treatment decisions.”
For Montgomery, who underwent a
mastectomy, Tuttle provided additional
education on the options that her surgeon
had presented to her, enrolled her in the
American Cancer Society’s “Reach to
Recovery” program, provided reinforcement
on a clinical trial offered to her by her
medical oncologist, reviewed educational
materials on options for reconstructive
surgery, and helped her find a resource for
mastectomy bras and prosthetics.
“She’s been a really big help,”
Montgomery said.
For Tuttle, it’s a dream job.
“I’ve been an oncology nurse my entire
career,” she said. “I’ve been a clinical
educator teaching nursing staff, a patient
educator and clinical nurse specialist
working with newly diagnosed cancer
patients, a research nurse in clinical trials
and a pediatric and adult oncology
nurse since I first began nursing in 1986.
Everything I’ve done has been preparing
me for this role.”
Tuttle came to Emanuel from the Kaweah
Delta Health Care District in Visalia.
“Patient navigation was what I wanted to
do,” she said. “I really enjoy being part
of a health care team that works together
to support the patient because that’s what
high-quality health care is all about.”
Tuttle works out of the hospital’s stateof-the-art
breast health center, the
Ruby E. Bergman Women’s Center,
although patients do not have to be treated
at the Center to use her services. Tuttle
is available to provide an individualized
breast cancer risk assessment for women
concerned about their risk of breast cancer,
and is available to speak to groups on
issues related to breast cancer. She is
a certified breast health navigator, an
advanced practice nurse with a master’s
degree in nursing, and she is studying to
get her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate.
She’s been active in the Oncology Nursing
Society her entire career.
“My role is to empower women and help
them navigate the system,” she explained.
“No one likes feeling like a patient, like
everything is just happening to you, and
I love helping people become active
participants in their cancer-treatment
journey. This is where I belong.”
Perkins couldn’t agree more.
“She’s the best person in the world for
this position,” he said. “She’s fantastic
– dedicated, caring, personable and
a certified navigator. I think her hiring
is another example of how Emanuel is
committed to providing world-class cancer
services and raising the quality of care in
our community.”
To reach Breast Health Navigator Debbie
Tuttle or to schedule a complimentary breast
cancer risk assessment call 209-664-2431
or email Debbie.Tuttle@emanuelmed.org.