Barriers Reductions for Cancer Care

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Cancer patients have many concerns that need to be addressed during critical timeframes. They can benefit from a personal guide to help them navigate through a hospital system to reduce the barriers that prevent them from accessing life-saving treatment and link them with free services. As a result, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has a partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to place a trained Patient Navigator (PN) within the Clinical Social Work Department to work directly with cancer patients, and address any barriers that can hinder their continuum of care. An overall increase in patients accessing ACS information, programs, and services was identified. Patients receiving transportation assistance increased from 127 patients (3,462 one-way rides prior to having the PN in place) to 311 patients (8,819 rides) during the first year of this program.