Patient Navigation Resources

The Institute encourages patient navigation professionals to share resources by providing links and contact information about services, events, and other resources of value to others. As "keepers" of the information we will edit and post submissions as they are received. 




​There is a growing litany of resources concerning patient navigation. Listed directly below are seminal works that have been important in the field of patient navigation.  In addition, other sections outline various resources that patient navigators and their clients will find useful. 

  • Pratt-Chapman, M.L., *Willis A., & Masselink L. (2015). Core competencies for oncology patient navigators. Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship, 6(2), 16-21.
  • Swanson, J. R., Strusowski, P., Mack, N, Degroot, J. Growing a Navigation Program: Using the NCCP Navigation Assessment Tool. OI, July-August 2012 / www.accc-cancer.org, 36-45.
  • Valverde,P.A., Burhansstipanov, L., Patierno, S., Gentry,S.,  Andrea Dwyer, A.; Wysocki, K; Patterson, A.K., Krebs, L.,Sellers, J., and Johnston, D., Findings From the National Navigation Roundtable: A Call for Competency-Based Patient Navigation Training. Cancer, 2019.
  • Willis A., Reed E., Pratt-Chapman, M.L., Kapp H., Hatcher E., Vaitones V., Collins S., Bires J., & Washington E. (2013). Development of a framework for patient navigation: delineating roles across navigator types. Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship, 4(6), 20-26. ​




​Patient-Centered Care Navigation Tools - Planners & Doers
  • AONN Navigation Metric Toolkit  This toolkit reflects the current recommendations from AONN+, recommendations from a pilot study, as well as best practices gleaned from navigators and navigation experts across the nation. The toolkit provides navigators with guidance on how to select, implement, report, and utilize navigation metrics as they engage in quality/performance improvement and strategic decision-making, It is focused on oncology practices.
  • ​​Better Care Playbook - The Better Care Playbook helps you find the best in evidence-based practices and promising approaches to improve care for people with complex health and social needs. It is sponsored by six leading health care foundations, and led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement with support from the Center for Health Care Strategies.  It breaks projects out by state.
  • Boston Medical Center Patient Navigation Toolkit. This toolkit helps implement a Patient Navigation program with the best chance of reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes for patients. It contains evidence-based and experience-based examples, case studies, practical tools, and resources for program leaders and patient navigators.. It assists in establishing an evidence-based patient navigation program.
  • Patient Navigation Effectiveness Toolkit is an assessment toolkit for patient navigation programs.This toolkit is designed for Patient Navigation program managers who have little to no experience with evaluation. The purpose of the toolkit is to help identify goals, identify what measures can be tracked to help determine if goals are being met, creating data collection tools, and some basic descriptive analysis. 
  • Cancer Patient Navigator Toolkit This cancer patient navigator toolkit defines patient navigation and provides program implementation tools such as a patient navigator position description, intake, and barriers to care forms, along with a sample cancer treatment plan and summary form. The toolkit provides some nice cancer specific information on the efficacy of patient navigation.
  • US Rural Community Health Workers (CHW) Toolkit. This toolkit compiles promising practices and resources to support rural communities seeking to develop CHW and patient navigation programs. CHWs are public health or social service workers who are close to and serve members of the community by helping them to adopt healthy behaviors. They may also be known as community health representatives, lay health workers, promotoras, peer health promoters, and peer health educators.
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​Federal and National Resources
  • U.S. Government Grants (Grants.gov) is a primary resource for funding in a variety of fields but is especially strong in healthcare funding.  This is a critical organization for new patient navigation programs.
  • Health and Human Services (HHS) - enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services.Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775.
  •  Health Information Privacy (HIPAA)- HHS information about federal laws concerning patient privacy.
  • ​ Mental Health (mentalhealth.gov) - HHS approaches to improving mental health.
  •  Health Resources and Services Administration - HRSA coordinates county level data resource products from over 50 sources.​​​​​
  • National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) -  A private nonprofit organization that builds consensus around important health care quality issues by working with large employers, policymakers, doctors, patients and health plans to decide what’s important, how to measure it, and how to promote improvement. Ph: 888-275-7585.
  • Outline of US Health Agencies - A listing provided by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) of important US Health Agencies (see HHS above).
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCORI) - A federally funded grant agency to improve the quality and relevance of evidence available to help patients, caregivers, clinicians, employers, insurers, and policy makers make informed health decisions. Contact at pfa@pcori.org or 202-627-1884.
  • The Joint Commission (JCAHO) - The Joint Commission is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Ph: 630-792-5800. 
  • The Administration for Community Living - A primary source about agencies and organizations engaged in eldercare navigation.  ​






​​Regional and State
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​Professional Groups 
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  • Academy of Oncology Nurses & Patient Navigators (AONN+) -  A national oncology-focused membership organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of nurse and patient navigators. This is an important source about the growth of patient navigation.
  • Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA) - A national organization of patient advocates that focuses on helping advocates establish successful patient assistance businesses.  Contact them at info@APHAdvocates.org or 352-459-0509.
  • Community Resource Finder is a listing done by AARP and the Alzheimer's Foundation - a neat resource.about age and dementia resources.
  • National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC) - A membership organization to improve patient outcomes through continuing education, promotion of national standards of practice, and active pursuit of policy change that lead to excellent patient-centered healthcare. Contact them at info@nahac.com.​
  • National Navigation Roundtable - The NNRT is a national collaborative of organizations working together to advance patient navigation efforts.  Membership includes partners from diverse sectors including academia, public health, advocacy and survivor groups, professional societies, industry, training, and state and federal agencies.  



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​Other Professional Resources - Blogs, Newsletters, Webinars
  • Aging Placement Resources
  • Alp​aBlog - A blog by Trish Torrey with APHA
  • Best Senior Care aging resources helps with the placement of aging adults throughout the U.S. The site discusses various types of services for the aged.
  • Caregiver articles from Janet Campbell with Elderspark and Caregiver resources: Caregiver Considerations - Financing Care
  • CDC Webinars and Broadcasts - Monthly short presentations concerning heart disease & stroke. There are numerous other webinars on a variety of topics.
  • Center for Health Care Strategies is a source for medical and healthcare resources for low-income persons. They have a good selection of webinars.
  • National Council on Aging -  resources and information for advocates and patient navigators who work with older adults.
  • Patient Empowerment Network - A blog about effectively engaging patients in healthcare.  This a great resource about implementing patient-centered care with an emphasis in oncology.
  • Patient Navigation and Survivorship Newsletter - This is an important resource for patient navigation news with a focus in oncology from George Washington University Medical School Cancer Institute. They offer links to training opportunities for navigators.
  • Patient Navigation Training Collaborative - The Patient Navigation and Community Health Worker Training program (PNCT) offers a full curriculum for patient navigators, care coordinators and community health workers. Although it is Colorado focused, it provides good training options for patient navigators and CHWs.
  • Podnosis is a Fierce Healthcare resource that uses podcasts to discuss major healthcare issues and directions.  Although it is focused towards administrators, it has good insights on what is happening in areas that impact effective patient navigation.
  • The Community Guide - A resource for public health and patient care issues.
  • The Medical Futurist provides information on medical breakthroughs through a weekly newsletter and video clips. It is a great way to keep up with new stuff.
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Mental Health and Sleep Issues
  • Employment & Mental Health is a Joblist article that provides a summary of steps people with mental illness can take to improve their employment options.
  • Mental Health: I Am Not Alone is a service offered through the Mental Heatth America to help people make connections and find resources.
  • Mental Health and Sleep Guide from Mattress Nerd offers a a comprehensive mental health and sleep guide which provides tips and advice from medical doctors on how to get a better night's rest. good overview of this area.
  • Mental Health - Anxiety by Fingerprint for Success is a blog about mental health issues for individuals and organizations.
  • Mental Health and Plant-Keeping ​is an article about the mental health benefits of plant-keeping during COVID.
  • Mental Health Crisis is an article from the Columbus Recovery Center that provides a useful description of how to handle suicide and other emergency situations.
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​Addiction Services






​Financial Resources and Other Navigation Services ​

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​Other Resources - Conditions and Groups:
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  • Cerebral Palsy - a source for services and research on cerebral palsy. 
  • ​Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a resource for information about available services for parents and children with cerebral palsy challenges.
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General Education Resources


​PCERI Articles and Newsletters:  ​

Emerging Field of Patient Navigation is an outline of the patient navigation field.

Newsletters

Fall 2023
Winter 2022 
Fall 2022 
Summer 2020
Summer 2019
Fall 2019

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