From initial screening and diagnosis to the end of treatment and beyond, Riverside Health’s cancer care navigators are here to help patients through their cancer journeys.
“We try to meet with everybody in person,” said Christine Johnson, BSN, RN, OCN, of the Gloucester Cancer Program.Over the past decade and a half, Riverside has implemented cancer care navigation as a resource for patients at no cost. “It’s just slowly grown,” said Johnson. There are now six dedicated navigators through the health system.
Riverside has cancer navigators for head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer patients. All cancer navigators are oncology-certified registered nurses.
“I’m the only one that’s Middle Peninsula focused,” said Johnson.
Cancer navigators help guide patients through the health system, as well as answer questions about their diagnosis and care plan.
“I do follow patients throughout their entire cancer journey,” said Johnson.
Navigators...