Recent advancements in treatment and a multimodal approach to care are improving outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, however access to therapies and unique patient challenges due to disease symptoms, difficulty eating, difficulty communicating, and other psychosocial factors can reduce patient quality of life.
In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG, registered dietician and head and neck program navigator at Sharp Memorial Hospital and Brittney Watts, RN, head and neck patient care coordinator at Yale New Haven Hospital, about the importance of head and neck nurse navigation and how a dedicated navigator can help address these unique patient needs and improve care for patients with head and neck cancer.
“I think looking at it through the eyes of the physicians, the health insurance, the organization [cancer program], and looking at what are the patient outcomes, success rates, delays in care, survivorship...I think those are important metrics to monitor and we [as head and neck patient navigators] can let a program know whether the patient’s needs are being met.” –Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG
“Having a specific nurse coordinator for the head and neck community is vital to the patient’s journey within the entire process. This is the point person for the patient, for the providers, and you are the connection for the patient to the healthcare facility.” –Brittney Watts, RN
Guests
Angelea Bruce, RD, CSO, OPN-CG
Registered Dietician, Head & Neck Program Navigator
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, California
Brittney Watts, RN
Head & Neck Cancer Patient Care Coordinator
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut
This episode, developed in connection with the ACCC education program Multidisciplinary Approaches to Head and Neck Cancer Care, was made possible with support by EMD Serono.
Additional Reading/Sources
Multidisciplinary Approaches to Head & Neck Cancer Care
Head and Neck Patient and Caregiver Resources
Social Determinants of Health in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Overcoming Barriers to Holistic Survivorship Care for Immunotherapy Patients
Integrating Genetic Counselors in Routine Genitourinary Care
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Anemia Management in High-Risk MDS and AML
Improving Care Delivery to Patients Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Highlights from the ACCC Working Summit: Advancing CAR T-Cell Therapy Care Continuity and Collaborative Patient Education
Care Action Plans for People with Cancer
Beyond the Brush: Navigating Dental Care in Head & Neck Cancer
Navigating the Operational Challenges of Treatment with Bispecific Antibodies
Policy Perspectives on Biomarker Testing Coverage for 2024
Open Enrollment: Best Practices for End-of-Year Prep
Disparities in Accessing Care for AML Patients: Challenges and Solutions
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A Conversation With ACCC’s Outgoing and Incoming Presidents at the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit
LIVE from AMCCBS: White House Update
LIVE from AMCCBS: Capitol Hill Update
LIVE from AMCCBS: Institute for Comprehensive Cancer Care Services
LIVE from AMCCBS: New Payments for Patient Navigation
LIVE from AMCCBS: Financial Advocacy Resources
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