A Guide to Implementing Best Practices in Person ... - cancerview.ca

Navigation: A Guide to Implementing Person-Centred Care September 2012The purpose of this guide is to convey the advances made in the field of Navigation asa result of the above activities and to highlight key learnings and approaches from theevaluation of Navigation programs that were commissioned by Cancer Journey. Chapters1 through 3 present recent advances in the development of professional, volunteerand virtual Navigation. Chapter 4 discusses the topic of change management toaddress some useful strategies, tools and approaches to managing and achieving practicechange when implementing Navigation programs. One of the key findings fromCancer Journey’s national evaluation is that a change management approach is beneficialto implementing a new role or new practice in a health care environment (ConsultationNicolas Inc., 2012; PICEPS Consulting Inc., 2012). Chapter 5 focuses on implementationand presents key findings from the external evaluation of three Navigationprograms across Canada. Chapter 6 provides some tools and methods to improve qualityand to evaluate Navigation programs. And Chapter 7 provides orientation to relevantresources available for Navigation.Chapter 1: Professional NavigationThis chapter describes recent developments in the field of professional Navigation andpresents several models, a conceptual framework and competencies. The chapter alsoconsiders the topic of education and training.Professional Navigation across CanadaAcross the country, professional Navigation programs have been designed to addressthe specific needs and gaps of various target populations, so program parameters vary.A survey of Navigation activity across Canada established that most programs focus onnewly diagnosed adult patients, where the population is defined by tumour site (CancerJourney Portfolio, 2011). In New Brunswick, the program focusses on pediatric patients.Numerous programs target high-needs patients or aim to address gaps in accessibilityand care for patients in rural and remote communities. It appears that mostprograms span the trajectory from diagnosis through treatment to survivorship, butsome programs target the diagnostic phase. In Ontario, a patient Navigation programhas been developed for Aboriginal cancer patients, and several other provinces areexploring the development of similar programs (Cancer Journey Portfolio, 2011). Themajority of professional roles are assumed by oncology nurses, but in some programsprofessional navigators are social workers. A combined model also exists, in which socialworkers work with oncology nurses in a team approach. There is also the recognitionthat clerical or administrative support is required to assist navigators when workloadsincrease.11