Providence Mission Hospital navigators ease the way for patients and their families

A patient’s journey through serious illness is often marked by stress, uncertainty and the need for complex care coordination. Navigators at Providence Mission Hospital guide patients through every phase of their experience — from diagnosis through treatment, recovery and beyond. Navigators fully support patients and their families, ensuring no step is taken alone throughout their journey to recovery.

Navigators act as the communication nexus, connecting patients with their care teams and coordinating all aspects of care ranging from cancer, cardiovascular, neurosciences and orthopedic. They bridge the gap between the patient’s various physicians, streamlining information flow and explaining treatment plans. In addition, navigators can help clarify medical issues, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health. 

“Our founding Sisters took various bobbins of thread, weaving together to create beautiful lace,” says Jennifer Cord, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, chief nursing officer. “This is what our navigators do for our patients. They coordinate medical care and address practical issues such as appointment schedules, financial worries and emotional needs. They are the thread that intertwines all of the resources together for the seamless care of our patients.”

While navigators often hail from nursing backgrounds, clinical experts like physical and respiratory therapists also serve as navigators, leveraging their expertise to guide patients through specific medical challenges. This multidisciplinary approach ensures patients receive tailored support that aligns with their unique conditions.

A vision for growth and impact

Providence Mission Hospital has embraced the importance of clinical navigators, recognizing their role in transforming the patient experience. With the help of philanthropy, the hospital has set its sights on expanding the navigation program. Plans are underway to double the current number of dedicated navigators, accompanied by the appointment of a nursing director to lead the centralized program — a unified team to ensure consistent, high-quality clinical navigation services across all our institutes and specialties.

With an emphasis on care that goes beyond the bedside, the navigator expansion will also include a focus on mental and behavioral health by bridging gaps in care connecting patients with resources and telehealth options. This commitment to holistic care echoes the hospital’s dedication to not only treating illnesses but enhancing the overall well-being of our community.

Our culture of caring with excellence and compassion is what makes Providence Mission Hospital unique — but our work is not done. With the community’s support, we will enhance our navigator program and accelerate our ability  to provide this critical care coordination on a  larger scale.

“My heart overflows when a grateful patient makes a generous gift to enhance care for the next patient, paying it forward,” says Jennifer. “It is our community helping our care teams, and our care teams helping our community when they need us the most. It’s really a symbiotic relationship. Like our navigators, donors are important threads in our tapestry — it’s how we touch each other’s lives.”

As Providence Mission Hospital charts its course for growth and expansion, the navigator program remains at its heart — delivering on our promise of “know me, care for me, ease my way.”