At a recent gathering, breast cancer survivors expressed the fears and uncertainties encountered throughout their ordeal.

 

“I felt like I was making decisions that I didn’t have the knowledge to make.”

 

“Going through the whole process you feel like you are totally out of control.”

 

“It’s scary when you don’t understand any of the equipment.”

 

These concerns, common to all women with breast cancer, are being addressed by Patient Navigators like nurse – and breast cancer survivor – Debbie Williams.

 

Becoming a Patient Navigator

“I know that I would not be around today if it wasn’t for that mammogram,” states Debbie Williams, Registered Nurse for Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Illinois. 

 

Debbie’s battle with breast cancer and her job as a surgical nurse provided her with a unique perspective on the difficult process of breast cancer treatment.

 

“I was very fortunate,” she recalls.  “I had many physicians and nurses giving me expert medical advice.”  For most women this is not the case.  So when given the opportunity, Debbie became Alexian Brothers’ first Patient Navigator, a breast center coordinator assigned to assist patients through the complex cycle of cancer care.

 

“I’ve learned so much over the last seven years with my own breast cancer, I felt my experience would help me to help other women.”

 

Providing guidance and support

“I would have loved to have someone guiding me through the process.”

 

This is the role Debbie works to fulfill.  Although she cannot dispense medical advice, she can be an experienced patient advocate. “There are so many decisions for a woman to make,” says Debbie, “it gets quite overwhelming.  I tell my patients I’ll help answer questions and discuss options.  I’ll make sure every ‘i’ is dotted and every‘ t’ is crossed.  And that’s a huge weight off their shoulders.”

 

Confronting technology

“Knowledge of how the equipment works is so far over the head of the average patient it just makes it scarier.”

 

Part of Debbie’s job is to educate.  Every one of her patients receives a big bag of information to review.  Process and procedures are explained.  Part of Philips’ responsibility is to demystify technology.  Developing this patient website is one step toward that goal.  Crafting a better ‘patient experience’ is another.

 

Ambient Experience

“Anytime you’re in a quiet exam room, you’re focused on the pain you’re going through, not on sunny days and little puppies.”

 

While Debbie brings compassion and comfort to her patients, Philips strives to do the same in the examination room.  A new concept called Ambient Experience takes a typical patient visit and reinvents it.  Gone are the cold, cluttered rooms and hurried staff.

 

Imagine a mammography suite where soft colored lighting, beautiful images (mountains, seascapes, etc.), soothing audio and specially trained staff combine to relax each patient.  Any visit becomes a surprisingly civilized experience.

 

A common thread of hope

“It’s kind of hard to know what the rules of the game are.”

 

With so many specialists and treatments, the breast wellness ‘game’ is complex.  Debbie helps women cope. “As a patient navigator I’m there to tell them what they need to do next.  I bring it all together.  I am the single constant in their continuum of care.  I am their friend in crisis.”

 

“My responsibility is truly to the patient.”

 

- October 2007

 

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