Optimizing Lung Cancer Care Through Patient Navigation-Optimizing Lung Cancer Care Through Patient Navigation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, hosted by the Association of Cancer Care Centers, focused on optimizing lung cancer care through patient navigation. Speakers Michelle Futrell and Jessica Kearns explained that patient navigation helps patients and caregivers move through complex screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up processes by reducing barriers, coordinating care, providing education, and offering emotional support. They highlighted both clinical and non-clinical navigators, noting that effective navigation can improve screening adherence, speed diagnosis and treatment, reduce disparities, and support psychosocial needs.<br /><br />CMS navigation reimbursement was briefly discussed, including a new 2024 CPT code for certain Medicare patients with high-risk conditions that may support payment for navigation services.<br /><br />Jessica shared St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s lung screening program as a case example. Their navigators review results, present suspicious findings at a multidisciplinary board, coordinate timely referrals, and help patients through surgery and treatment. She described a patient whose screening found an early-stage lung cancer, demonstrating how navigation can lead to early detection and good outcomes. St. Elizabeth also tracks program metrics, uses Epic tools and dashboards, has a multidisciplinary steering committee, and partners with population health and tobacco cessation teams to improve follow-up and screening adherence.<br /><br />Michelle discussed common challenges such as workload, communication, tracking outcomes, and outreach to underserved populations. Strategies included leveraging technology, creating clear follow-up pathways, delegating tasks, collaborating with providers and community organizations, and using data to justify resources.<br /><br />The session concluded with a Q&A, emphasizing that navigation can be valuable even when provided by non-nurses such as rad techs, social workers, or community navigators.

Keywords

lung cancer care

patient navigation

screening adherence

diagnosis and treatment

care coordination

CMS reimbursement

CPT code 2024

multidisciplinary board

early detection

healthcare disparities