Patient Navigators' Integration into Heatlhcare Team: An Educational Model

Researchers are finding that well-trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a vital role in reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes by assisting patients in overcoming barriers to care and negotiating complex clinical systems. A recent survey of Massachusetts' Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Case Managers and Patient Navigators (PNs) highlighted the unique role of PNs while identifying areas of improvement. Specifically, the study identified the need for PN/Supervisor education to clarify PN role definition, and to facilitate the integration of PNs into multidisciplinary care teams. To address this, the Women's Health Network and Men's Health Partnership of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health partnered with UMass Medical School's MassAHEC Network including Central MA AHEC's Outreach Worker Training Institute and AHEC of Southeastern MA to develop and implement curricula for PNs and their Supervisors statewide. With the input of an advisory board that included PNs/CHWs and representatives from medical, educational, advocacy and research fields, the newly developed certificate courses were piloted among MDPH programs during fall 2007. The 45-hour PN course consisted of a core curriculum and health-specific components. The 12-hour Supervisor Training consisted of Cultural Competency, Health Disparities, and PN Role Definition. Project evaluation demonstrated an increase in knowledge and self-efficacy among PNs and Supervisors. A critical component of this project was the involvement of PNs/CHWs at every stage of program planning, teaching and evaluation. Similarly, PNs have been involved in the development of this abstract and would participate in the presentation of this work at APHA.