Nurse Navigator Program

This innovative program matches breast care patient with our Nurse Navigator at Haywood Regional Medical Center. Women coping with biopsy or a cancer diagnosis and treatment now have a unique professional advocates on their healthcare team.

The Nurse Navigator for Haywood Regional Medical Center is a uniquely skilled nurse that offers support and guides breast cancer patients and their families throughout their course of medical treatment. Our nurse navigators know treatment options, resources, referral and support systems, etc. and can assist the patient in navigating all aspects of their care. Our nurse navigators will meet with patients at the point of a biopsy recommendation and stays with the patient from the initial testing and diagnosis, continuing throughout the care and treatment process. They also assist with and coordinates patient appointments; provides educational materials for patient and family members; assesses the medical, emotional and social needs of her patients; works to eliminate barriers to care and follows up with medical staff to monitor and track patient care. 

The nurse navigator program works closely with surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, registered mammography technologists, Ultrasound / MRI / CT,  Nuclear Medicine technologists, certified lymphedema specialists, registered dietitians, and behavioral health therapists.

Some of the daily Duties of the Nurse Navigator:

• Contacting patients who require additional imaging after mammograms
• Providing education and emotional support to patients and their families
• Meet with all patients who are recommended for biopsy  -  providing written and verbal information / answering questions about specific procedures and collecting information necessary for the biopsy procedure.

 Assisting patients in many ways including:

• Scheduling appointments
• Overcoming barriers to care including transportation and financial needs
• Contacting patients regularly to receive updates and offer assistance
• Reviewing any new patient procedures or education
• Being available by phone 24/7 for patients needs and concerns

 For patients with a positive cancer diagnosis Navigators provide a helpful service:

• Working with primary care providers to make sure patients receive the results in a timely manner 
• Meeting with patient and their family and support persons to review their specific diagnosis
• Providing emotional support to patient and family
• Providing referral and resource information for patients and their caregivers
• Scheduling Appts for care and /or patient referrals
• Visiting patients by phone or in person before and after surgery 
• Assessing and addressing  barriers to care (done on a continual basis also)
• Attending procedures or office visits if the patient requests their presence 
• Supporting and clarify what the providers plan is in lay language if needed
• Calling patients the day before procedures to see if they have any questions and confirm time to arrive
• Relaying any concerns or new information to the patients care providers.

 Navigators are also involved in the community with groups like :

• Cancer Support groups  
• American Cancer Society :  “Look Good Feel Better” and other programs
• Relay for Life:  Haywood County