Denver Health Patient Navigation Research Program

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Denver Health Patient Navigation Research Program

• Peter Raich, M.D., PrincipaI Investigator
• Elizabeth Whitley, Ph.D., RN, Co-Principal
  Investigator
• Patricia Alvarez Valverde, MPH, Project Manager

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Patient Navigation

• Patient navigation for cancer care refers to
  support and guidance offered to persons with
  abnormal cancer screening tests or the diagnosis
  of cancer, with the goal of accessing the cancer
  care system and overcoming barriers to timely,
  quality care in a culturally sensitive manner.

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Program Partners

• Denver Health
• University of Colorado Cancer Center
• AMC Cancer Research Center
• Colorado Health Outcomes Program of the
  University of Colorado at Denver and Health
  Sciences Center

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Study Participants

• At risk for delays in care
• Racial and ethnic minorities
• Low income
• Un- and underinsured
• Rural

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Summary of Intervention

• 4.5 FTE PNs work with Breast, Prostate and
  Colorectal diagnostic screening and cancer
  patients
• Includes 2 outcalls from AMCs Cancer Information
  and Counseling Line (CICL)
• Post intervention surveys by AMCs Computer
  Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) unit

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Program Essentials

• Randomized design
• Specific endpoints
• Time from abnormal screening test ? resolution
• Time from diagnosis ? start of treatment
• Patient satisfaction with cancer care
• Cancer-related health care costs
• Comprehensive training program

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What we hope to learn

• How to assess cost effectiveness
• Impact on patient barriers
• Impact on systems barriers
• Navigator qualifications
• Navigator case load
• Optimal training program