EduCare Surveys: The Role and Scope of Practice of the Breast Health Navigator
In the 1990s, healthcare reform shifted much of inpatient care to an outpatient status. The move saved money, but it created fragmentation in patient care. The gaps in care were experienced mostly in diseases that required multiple disciplines to treat the patient, such as breast cancer. Because of the complexities of outpatient management of breast cancer patients, the role of the Breast Health Navigator and the concept of dedicated breast health emerged to fill the gaps and reduce fragmentation of services for the patient. The Breast Health Navigator role and scope of practice varied in different centers as it met the need of local breast care programs. Because of the evolving role of Navigators, local administrators often face challenges in writing job descriptions and determining compensation for the new Breast Health Navigation position.
EduCare, conducts Strategic Planning for hospital administrators and has trained over 2,250 nurses to fill the Breast Health Navigator position. In 2005 we began conducting Internet surveys of trained nurses currently working as Breast Health Navigators to determine the scope of their practice and to offer guidance for administrators and facilities implementing the Nurse Navigator role. To determine new and emerging trends since 2005, the survey was conducted in 2009, 2013 and again in 2017.