POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM FOR PATIENT NAVIGATORS

Program Director: Conf. Dr. Bianca Gălățeanu (bianca.galateanu@unibuc.ro)

According to the occupational standard for “Patient Navigator“(COR code 226922), aim The goal of a patient navigation program is to increase the success rate in investigating, correctly diagnosing and finding the most appropriate treatment for each patient by eliminating financial, communication (due to misunderstanding of medical terms, cultural differences, etc.), medical system barriers (missed appointments, missed results, etc.), psychological (fear, loss of self-confidence), or other barriers. The navigator is the link between the treating doctor and the patient, working together as a team, whose aim is to cure the patient or, when this is no longer possible, to prolong the patient’s life or improve his or her condition. It is the navigator who can explain to the patient, in a way that he or she understands, the results of tests, treatment options, the possible negative effects of each option, the stages of treatment, and the frequency of treatment. These details, together with support and encouragement during treatment, are often the key to success in achieving full recovery and integrating the patient into everyday life.

Professional skills acquired by the trainees of the patient navigation program are:

  • The role of patient navigator in the context of national health statistics.
  • Use of specialized terminology on rare chronic hematological and oncological diseases.
  • Collaboration with medical staff.
  • Analyze the results of disease-specific investigations.
  • Analyzing medical cases in order to provide a complex overview of the patient’s medical situations.
  • Communicating and interrelating with the patient and caregivers.
  • Patients’ rights in the context of their diagnosis.
  • Apply tools for self-regulation and maintaining emotional balance.

As a result of completing a patient navigator study program, learners will be able to do the following specific activities the occupation of patient navigator:

  • Creating and maintaining a good relationship with the attending physician for a good knowledge and understanding of the medical case.
  • Analyzing the medical case taking into account the medical history (patient and family), interpretation of the results of investigations and any other aspects that may influence the correct diagnosis and treatment.
  • Explain the test results in a way that is understandable to the patient and or caregivers.
  • Explaining the diagnosis established by the treating physician in a way that is understandable to the patient and or caregivers.
  • Explaining the stages of treatment set by the doctor.
  • Explaining the effects of treatment and counseling to overcome possible negative effects of chemotherapy and or radiotherapy.
  • Support, encourage and counsel the patient during investigations and treatment.

Facilitating access to various types of investigations (second opinion, investigations, imaging, etc)

Preparation time to achieve the proposed objectives;
Number of teaching hours: 60 hours theory and 120 hours practical = 180 hours (15 ECTS)
Duration of study: 9 weeks
Final assessment: written exam 2h (1 ECTS)

Minimum and maximum number of participants for a training cycle or series: 15 – 50 trainees

More details about admission are available here

CURRICULUM

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