Patient Navigator

Patient Navigator Helps Guide Patients Through the Care Experience

The patient navigator at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center is a qualified health care professional whose main purpose is to help patients navigate the system to receive timely care and to eliminate any and all barriers to screening, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care for each patient.

Our certified patient navigator acts as the support hub for all aspects of patients’ movements through the health care system and promotes smooth and timely continuity of care to the point of resolution.

By increasing awareness of and facilitating access to health care and community resources, the patient navigator assists patients with achieving the best possible health outcomes.

Patient Navigator Seeks to Eliminate Barriers

One aspect of the patient navigator’s role is to help eliminate frequently encountered barriers in the patient experience. Examples of these barriers include:

• Communication barriers such as lack of understanding, language or cultural
• Financial barriers, including uninsured/underinsured
• Medical system barriers such as fragmented medical system, missed appointments, lost results
• Psychological barriers such as fear and distrust
• Other barriers, such as transportation and need for child care

Benefits of Patient Navigation

Some of the benefits of patient navigation at UH Geauga Medical Center include:

• Access to timely medical treatment
• Access to resources and support services
• Comfort level with health care system
• Coordination of care

How Patient Navigators Can Help

The patient navigator at UH Geauga Medical Center can assist patients in a variety of ways, such as:

• Providing literature on coping with cancer, what to expect during chemotherapy and radiation, and dealing with side effects of treatment
• Referring patients to support groups, classes and other programs for information and support
• Helping patients identify resources for financial assistance, medication needs, home health care, insurance questions, transportation and other concerns
• Listening, caring and helping patients in their time of need
• Identifying activities that can help ensure a better quality of life
• Helping cancer survivors learn to self-navigate