3.1 Systems Navigation

Systems Navigator is a fairly new career that is growing, changing and emerging as a profession. This includes working in an inter-disciplinary team in various settings such as hospitals, medical centres, inpatient, outpatient, education, community services, schools, treatment centres and social services. ,  Navigating systems is different depending on where you work and has its own challenges when  navigating complicated and interrelated systems.  This includes communication between the facility, inter-disciplinary team and individuals, acting as an advocate and guide.

 

Figure 3.1.1 Created by Denise Halsey

There are many different programs where you can get a certificate specializing in Systems Navigation.  Depending on what system you are working in, the skillset will be slightly different.  These programs assist you with a specific skillset to work with inter-disciplinary teams in hospitals, medical centres, private practice, outreach, mental health, addictions, youth, seniors, shelters, special needs, deaf/blind, housing, harm reduction, overdose prevention, withdrawal management, community services, correctional and probation facilities, schools, and in private and public facilities. Guide patients, clients, families and members of vulnerable populations through complex health and social care systems and difficult decision-making processes.

 

Figure 3.1.2 Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

These skills will include but not limited to:

  • working with diverse clients
  • personalized care plans
  • complex systems
  • professional knowledge
  • inpatient & outpatient
  • communications
  • client-centred
  • professional conduct
  • communications
Figure 3.1.1 Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

It is necessary to have skills to assess diverse clients’ service priorities and to develop personalized care plans.  Knowledge of professional, legal and ethical standards of practice to advance equitable health and community services is important.  Implement support plans, work with diverse clients and families, use strategies, good communications and team work within your agency and with others.

Knowledge and training will be an ongoing learning curve.  Keeping up to date with changes (for example COVID-19 changes, new knowledge) as well as staying current on theories, new programs, new agencies and opportunities.  This will be an ongoing learning as each community has their own dynamics as well as new innovative opportunities and agencies.

Let’s watch a video on What is a Patient Navigator.

What is a Patient Navigator? by Health Leadership and Learning Network.  Dr. Rosemary Kohr , Program Director of our Patient Navigator and Peer Health Navigator defines the role of Patient Navigators and Peer Health Navigator (3)

Transcript

 

EMERGING OR EVOLVING ROLES IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR (1)

6 videos on Navigating the Healthcare system as it changes

Youtube Playlist of:

  1. What is a Peer Health Navigator (also called Lay Navigator)? (.57 second)(2)
  2. What is a Patient Navigator? (47 seconds)(3)
  3. Patient vs Peer Health Navigator (this last one also called Lay Navigator) (1.42 minutes) (4)
  4. What are the roles and duties of a Director of Care (DOC) of a Retirement Home or Nursing Home? (1.03 min) (5)
  5. What is Cancer Coaching (3.17 min) (6)
  6. What are the duties and challenges of Clinical Leaders? (1.30 min) (7)

 

For more information on training for Systems Navigator:

It is important to remember that each System that we work in that have system navigators is different.  There are many complicated layers and interrelated systems that are specific to that system (addictions, mental health, or healthcare).  As a systems navigator the role we have as the primary source of communication between the inter-disciplinary team and individuals, acting as an advocate and guide can be a challenging but very rewarding one.  On this journey, there is ongoing growth and challenges as we acquire new skills  to assess diverse clients’ service priorities and to develop personalized care plans.

 

Reference:

  1. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.-a). https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g
  2. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.). What is a Peer Health Navigator (also called Lay Navigator)? [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuOpLdUWtqw&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=1
  3. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.-e). What is a Patient Navigator? [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bDjfV4NU-M&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=2
  4. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.). Patient vs Peer Health Navigator (this last one also called Lay Navigator) [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9_qEVSQzjw&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=3
  5. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.). What are the roles and duties of a Director of Care (DOC) of a Retirement Home or Nursing Home? [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEt8LLf4V-A&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=4
  6. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.). What is Cancer Coaching? [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTq4b4BE65I&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=5
  7. Health Leadership and Learning Network. (n.d.). What are the duties and challenges of Clinical Leaders? [Video]. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cU7NO5yog0&list=PLnbC6qDVeN1jRvEjOJ-0XN4vnLMgvJ68g&index=6

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Exploring Systems Navigation and Select Population Copyright © by Denise Halsey and Sunil Boodhai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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