|
|
|
|
|
Home > News
|
| Friday, August 26, 2011
|
|
Contact: Debra Thompson
Director, RMH Corporate Communications
540-564-5886
 RMH Breast Health Navigators Libbi Fitzgerald, RN, and Deanna Lam, RN, have received the designation of Certified Breast Patient Navigator from the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC).
Fitzgerald and Lam completed the NCBC’s Breast Patient Navigator Certification Program in June. According to the NCBC, certification validates their knowledge and skills in navigating a breast patient through the continuum of care. Certification also indicates their personal and professional commitment to providing the highest quality care for patients.
“Moving a patient through the phases of breast care or breast cancer care is a complex and highly individualized process,” noted Teresa Boshart Yoder, director, RMH Women’s Services. “That complexity is reduced with the help of someone who is trained to navigate patients through the processes of care.”
The navigator ensures patients receive timely exam results and are scheduled for appropriate follow-up care or their next routine imaging exam, Yoder explained. The navigator also helps patients identify resources available to them and helps ensure that they are informed participants in their breast health/cancer care program. “The patient is the focus in each of the navigation stages,” noted Yoder.
“Deanna and Libbi have been a blessing to all the women and men facing the breast cancer journey,” Yoder added. “I have watched them connect with each person and family to give them a sense of comfort and support through some very difficult times.”
Fitzgerald earned RN certification from Blue Ridge Community College and a bachelor of science (in dietetics) from JMU. She previously worked as a nurse in the RMH Family Birthplace and has been an RMH nurse since 2005.
Lam earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Blue Ridge Community College and a bachelor of science in nursing from Eastern Mennonite University. Before joining the RMH Women’s Center as a breast health navigator, she served as a clinical coordinator for the RMH Family Birthplace. She has been an RMH nurse since 1998.
The RMH breast health navigator program began in 2005.
The NCBC promotes excellence in breast health care for the general public through a network of diverse professionals dedicated to the active exchange of ideas and resources. It serves as an informational resource and provides support services to care providers through educational programs, newsletters, a national directory and patient forums. It also facilitates collaborative research opportunities on issues of breast health. The NCBC has developed a set of core measures to define, improve and sustain quality standards in breast health care programs and for quality performance in all types of breast health care facilities.
For more information, visit www.breastcare.org.
|
|
|
|
Virtual Tour
Planning a visit to RMH? Take a tour of our campus before you come.
Talk to Us
RMH appreciates your feedback.
Sign up for updates and news from RMH!
Enter your email address below to receive health and news updates from RMHOnline.com!
|