Melissa Andres Explains the Patient Navigator's Role in Eliminating Barriers

Planning for adverse effects early on helps patients prepare for what lies ahead, says Michelle Kirschner, MSN, RN, ACNP, APRN-BC.

Linda Bloom, MPA, RN, OCN, highlights how tools such as audio interpretation technology and clear masks can help nurses and patients overcome communication barriers in oncology.

Black and Hispanic pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma had significantly lower 5-year survival rates in induction and/or consolidation trials.

“We’ve had periods of time where things were shut down. We do have telemedicine, that was expanded, but telemedicine doesn’t work for everyone. If you don’t have internet access, if you don’t have the ability to understand the technology….”

“By addressing these issues, we can ensure that all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to benefit from potentially curative treatments,” one expert says.

About a quarter of patients with cancer routinely access their electronic health records.