Patient Navigator Project

The goal of our local project is to provide Tampa Bay with a culturally appropriate Patient Navigator Program that will decrease delay in diagnosis and delivery of cancer care in an acceptable and cost-effective manner leading to lower cancer mortality among our underserved populations. We will partner with community health centers in the Tampa Bay area to provide an avenue for patients who have received an abnormal screening for breast and colorectal cancer to easier pilot the course of the healthcare system. The populations served by this program will include African-Americans, Hispanics and rural Whites who are medically underserved due to lack of insurance, documentation issues and a variety of other barriers to health care.

The primary outcome to be tested with this program is the time it takes for patients with an abnormality to receive a definitive diagnosis. Secondary outcomes such as patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness will also be measured. This program occurs in three phases. In Phase I, the aim is to work closely with our key community partners to conduct formative research for the development of an acceptable, appealing, and appropriate Patient Navigator Program. The aim for Phase II is to conduct a group randomized controlled trial by having participating clinics randomly assigned to an intervention or control clinic. The outcomes from this phase in the project will be assessed through chart reviews, patient satisfaction surveys and other survey methods. In Phase III a comprehensive evaluation on the program will be produced and disseminated nationally.

Inclusion criteria

• Receive health care at one of the enrolled clinics
• Newly diagnosed with breast of colorectal cancer or if they have an abnormality that is suspicious for breast (breast lump, or abnormal mammogram) or colorectal cancer (abnormal colon screening test, blood in bowel movement).

Exclusion criteria

• Persons with previous history of breast or colon cancer will be excluded from the study