When you receive a diagnosis of heart failure or cancer, your world stops on a dime. The myriad appointments, labs and tests can be overwhelming. But at LMH Health, there are people whose job is specifically to help guide you through those challenging times — nurse navigators.

“We identified a gap for patients, particularly those who needed to coordinate care between different providers,” said Megan Pedersen, administrative director for LMH Health specialty clinics. “With a nurse navigator, the patient has a dedicated contact who will guide them through everything they need.”

What does a nurse navigator do?

A nurse navigator helps patients navigate the health care system during their treatment. They connect patients to resources and information to help them make informed decisions throughout the treatment process. Their job includes:

l Scheduling appointments and coordinating care between multiple doctors, clinics and specialties

l Providing education to patients about their condition, treatment and potential side effects

l Answering questions throughout all stages of treatment

Lorie Sawyer has been a nurse at Cardiovascular Specialists of Lawrence since 2012. She began her role as a nurse navigator when it was introduced in the clinic about a year ago. Navigators are available to any cardiology patients who need to undergo a procedure.

“If you’re having a heart cath or getting a pacemaker or LINQ implant, I schedule those procedures, provide you education about the procedure, what to expect and what you need to do,” she said. “If we refer you to another location, I follow up and ensure that you get back to us for care. Whether it’s long or short, I’m with you throughout the journey.”

Nurse navigators aren’t unique to LMH Health. Many hospitals and health systems across the country employ nurses in these roles every day. Having nurse navigators is even a requirement for certain designations a hospital can receive, such as accreditation from the Commission on Cancer.

“We recognize the level of support that nurse navigators provide and that having this role improves patient outcomes,” Pedersen said. “We work with about 600 new cancer patients each year. Our navigators meet with each and every one of them.”

Cindy Crocker has been a nurse at the LMH Health Cancer Center for more than a decade. She knows that being a dedicated point of contact during such an uncertain time is a lifeline for her patients.

“Everything can become a blur after a cancer diagnosis,” she said. “You get a lot of information in the beginning, and sometimes additional tests, procedures or referrals to other specialists need to be done before starting treatment. The process can be overwhelming.”

“I’m there from the beginning, meeting each patient at their first appointment,” she said. “I’ll provide education and answer your questions, set up your appointments, make referrals, identify barriers and be there in the background when you need me. I’m here to help you through the journey from start to finish.”