Nurse navigation

Throughout the cancer journey, a cancer patient can see up to 8 different cancer experts from diagnosis through recovery. Sarah Cannon's specially-trained nurse navigators assist patients through their journeys, connecting them with healthcare team members, answering questions related to their treatment plan and helping them digest new information. With compassion and knowledge of a patient's unique cancer, nurse navigators serve as an anchor for support and information through the continuum of care.

We have created oncology pathways that help ensure seamless care across the cancer journey for both the patient and providers. Pathways ultimately improve consistency and maintain quality care and patient outcomes. Over the last few decades, patient navigation has developed and gained prominence, to the extent that this process is now a requirement of major oncology accreditation bodies. These requirements are not the only reason that patient navigation programs have proliferated – studies have demonstrated clinical benefits (including increased screening rates, improved stage at diagnosis, reduced broken appointment rates and more timely follow up) and improvements in patient satisfaction.

Sarah Cannon has created a patient navigation system that addresses the continuum of cancer care. The system is designed to support patient navigators in all phases of the treatment spectrum, addressing prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis, treatment, palliative and supportive care. By tracking progress, providing check lists, facilitating communication and producing reminders, the system is a vital tool in the expansion of our capabilities and patient outcome success. Our efforts will both strengthen the care that we are able to give our patients and provide support to the staff who administers this outstanding care.

Sarah Cannon has invested in nurse navigators, who specialize in cancer, to support patients as they go through the many stages of living with cancer. We have implemented technology systems that help manage all of the relevant details of a patient’s care, including appointment management, reminders, surgical consults, eliminating barriers to care, patient interactions and everything in between. This technology and our highly trained staff work together as a very sophisticated “buddy system” – partnered with patients, making sure that we exceed their expectations.