Patient Navigators: Meeting the Needs of Patients Along the Cancer Journey

A cancer diagnosis can bring about many questions, but it is important to know patient navigators at Mayo Clinic are active members of your healthcare team and work to address the many needs you or a loved one might have. Patient navigators provide nonclinical support through the coordination of ancillary services including, but not limited to, transportation and lodging accommodations. Patient navigators also assist with financial concerns, disease-specific inquiries, and emotional support by connecting you to available internal and community resources, working closely with social work when appropriate. This service is free to Mayo Clinic Cancer Center patients and families at any of our Mayo Clinic locations. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has both general patient navigators who assist all patients and disease groups as well as patient navigators who serve specific cultural patient populations. Currently we have navigators on staff serving these communities: Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, and African Descent. Patients and families may discuss their individual situation with a Patient Navigator.

Rochester, Minnesota: CECPTNAVIGATOR@mayo.edu Phone: 1-507-266-9288

Phoenix, Arizona:  ARZCECPTNavigator@mayo.edu  Phone: 1-480-342-4229

Jacksonville, FL: FLACECPTNavigator@mayo.edu  Phone:  904-956-8105

To get updates on the patient navigator program visit the Patient Navigator Tab located on this Cancer Education blog.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast below, Laura Kurland discusses the importance of patient navigators, why culture-specific navigators are needed, and how she helps patients access the care and support they need.

Mayo Clinic Q & A: Patient Navigators

Have you worked with a patient navigator during your cancer journey? If so, what was your experience?