SALEM, Ohio —Ashley Hunter, RN, is the new nurse navigator for the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Salem Regional Medical Center.
“An unexpected cancer diagnosis can be especially difficult to accept as patients struggle with the issues of diagnosis and treatment. A nurse navigator is a key person on the health care team, who the patient connects with throughout the course of their breast cancer journey,” says Hunter.
“A nurse navigator has been specially trained to listen to the patient’s concerns, answer questions, and then help the patient understand the next steps in the process, from diagnosis to treatment to recovery. My role is to serve as a single point of contact between the patients and their health care providers, to help guide, educate, advocate for and support them,” she continues.
“The care of breast patients often involves multiple different specialties, such as radiology, surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology and plastic surgery. In addition, there are other services that are sometimes needed, such as genetic counseling, social services, physical therapy and survivorship care. So right out of the gate, these patients are faced with several appointments to manage, and it is a lot for them to understand.”
Nurse navigation services can include:
- Educating patients and their families about their diagnosis and treatment options.
- Coordinating patients’ care with their oncologists, surgeons and the health care team.
- Scheduling appointments and facilitating referrals.
- Answering questions or concerns about each phase of the patient’s journey.
The University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at SRMC offers renewed hope in the fight against cancer and is accredited by the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.