This purpose of this protocol is to systematically evaluate the role of Patient Navigators, non-medical personnel who assist in the coordination of care, for women attending a breast cancer screening clinic in Harlem who are found to have a suspicious result. The concept of patient navigation, developed by Dr. Harold Freeman, has been identified as a promising strategy to reduce disparities in health care for minorities and the underserved.
This protocol will evaluate the role of the Patient Navigator in coordinating care for women who are referred to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention (RLCCCP) from the Breast Examination Center of Harlem (BECH). To achieve this, we propose four interrelated tasks. First, we will characterize in detail the specific nature of the activities of the Navigators as they remedy barriers to the receipt of breast cancer care. Secondly, we will determine whether the presence of the Navigator minimizes the percentage of patients with significant delays in receipt of necessary care. Third, we will measure patient satisfaction with care and their perceptions of the value of the Navigator. Finally, we will provide a baseline needs assessment of those (eligible) patients requiring pain and palliation services.
Specific Aims:
1. To characterize the role of Patient Navigators by defining the specific tasks and activities they perform in order to eliminate and/or reduce barriers to receipt of cancer care.
2. To evaluate how the presence of a Patient Navigator influences the time intervals from receipt of a suspicious screening mammogram or palpable breast mass to appropriate diagnosis and or treatment.
3. To measure patient's satisfaction with the coordination of care in the presence of a Patient Navigator.
4. To descriptively assess the pain and palliation needs of the population under study.
