Course Descriptions
What course is right for you?
We offer Level 1 and Level 2 courses. Find out which level is right for you by viewing our Training Model. Get more information about college credit, patient navigator careers and other frequently asked questions at our Course and Training Information page.
Colorado Colorectal Screening for Patient Navigators
This webinar was recorded on August 25, 2009 and presented by the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program (CCSP). CCSP provides funding for colorectal screening to residents in Colorado. Webinar topics include a brief description of the CCSP program, who is eligible, resources for uninsured and underinsured residents, and navigating those diagnosed with colorectal cancer. View recorded webinar
Patient Navigator Overview (Free Online Tutorial!)
This self-paced online tutorial provides an overview of patient navigation and its history. The tutorial examines the barriers that keep patients from getting healthcare and the role patient navigators play in helping patients “navigate” the healthcare system. Included are interactive practice items, a patient video and a “day in the life” description of one urban patient navigator.
Begin the tutorial now (registration not required)
The Impact of Chronic Disease and Risk Factors
This tutorial looks at the impact of chronic disease and chronic disease risk factors. In part one, the tutorial examines patterns of chronic disease in the United States. We see how rates of chronic disease can vary by age, sex, race, ethnicity and location. In part two we overview several chronic disease risk factors such as smoking, obesity and high blood pressure. We also see the role patient navigation has in reducing the burden of chronic disease.
PLEASE NOTE:
- To receive a certificate of completion for this course you must attend and actively participate in the entire program of training (all four days)
- The Colorado Patient Navigator Training Program does not endorse any product, medication or medical device and does not receive commercial support for this training
- The cost of this four-day course is $400
- Who are Level 1 courses for?
Topic Areas:
Patient Navigator Basic Skills & Patient Resources (2 days)
Patient navigators build relationships, solve problems and locate resources. This course discusses patient navigator roles and responsibilities and allows you to practice effective communication and problem-solving skills. Navigators will also learn how to locate and evaluate patient resources and learn strategies for working with community agencies, healthcare team members, and organizations that serve patients. View course objectives
Basic Health Promotion (1 day)
In this course we focus on health disparities and how to promote good health. We’ll examine chronic disease risk factors, health screening, preventive care, and health literacy. We also look at patient health behavior and how to identify patient readiness for change. View course Objectives
Patient Navigator Professional Conduct (1 day)
Because patient navigators work closely with patients, develop trust and learn about their personal lives, the line between a professional and personal relationship can become unclear. This course clarifies the role of a patient navigator and provides tips for keeping patient relationships professional. We also explore ethical issues faced by patient navigators and discuss how to approach ethical decisions. View course objectives
Level 2 courses are 6-week online courses. ALL course activities take place via the internet (there are no face-to-face meetings, so you can take the course from anywhere). Online activities including weekly readings, tutorials, quizzes, and online discussions with other patient navigators. Online courses require 6 hours of time per week. The amount of work each week is similar to a college-level online course. Because you will be participating in online discussions with other students in the course, the success of the course depends on your participation. By registering for an online course, you commit to fully participating in the course and online discussions. The cost of each Level 2 course is $400. Who are Level 2 courses for?
Physical Aspects of Disease
Navigators who understand the terminology, treatment and prevention of chronic diseases are best equipped to help patients. In this course we focus on the physical aspect of several common chronic diseases, their risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. You’ll learn about cancer, diabetes,heart disease and pulmonary disease. View course objectives
Emotional and Social Aspects of Disease
Chronic diseases affect our physical bodies, but they also have an emotional, social and psychological impact. This course explains how chronic disease affects patients and their families and the role of navigators in helping patients. View course objectives
Advanced Care Coordination
Care coordination requires partnerships with patients and individuals in the healthcare system. This online course focuses on building those partnerships through effective collaboration and communication. We examine techniques to navigating and coordinating a patient’s care inside and outside your healthcare system and discuss how to educate patients on their appropriate use. We also practice behavior change and coaching strategies. View course objectives
Advanced Professional Conduct
In this online course we examine ethical issues related to healthcare. Case studies and stories will be used to illustrate ethical concerns and facilitate personal reflection. We will also discuss how to apply ethical decision-making to situations faced in daily practice. View course objectives
Who are Level 1 and Level 2 courses for?
Learning Objectives: Physical Aspects of Disease
Cancer
- Identify the signs and symptoms of cancer
- Identify the main stages of cancer
- Describe cancer diagnostic procedures
- Describe how cancer treatments are delivered
- Describe side effects for each main type of cancer treatment
- Describe how cancer pain and treatment side effects are managed
Diabetes
- Name and describe the two types of diabetes
- List diabetes signs and symptoms
- List the causes and risk factors for diabetes
- Describe how diabetes is diagnosed and procedures for testing
- Describe how insulin works
- List lifestyle changes of people with diabetes
Heart Disease
- Identify the major types of heart disease
- List heart disease causes and risk factors
- Identify signs and symptoms of a heart attack and heart disease
- Describe how heart disease is diagnosed
- Describe lifestyle changes heart disease patients undergo
- Describe typical health problems that accompany heart disease
Pulmonary Disease
- Name and describe the major types of pulmonary diseases
- List causes and risk factors of pulmonary diseases
- List the signs and symptoms of major pulmonary diseases
- Explain how pulmonary diseases are diagnosed
- Describe treatment options for pulmonary diseases
- Describe appropriate lifestyle changes for a person with pulmonary disease
- List typical health problems associated with pulmonary disease
Health Information and Prevention
- Describe how chronic diseases occur by age, gender and geography
- Identify common misperceptions about each disease and suggest strategies for educating patients
- Describe routine preventive health measures for persons with or at risk for chronic disease such as: infection control, dental health, and weight management
- List strategies for maintaining current information on chronic disease diagnosis, treatment and clinical trials
Learning Objectives: Emotional and Social Aspects of Disease
Bias, Culture and Values in Healthcare
- Describe how personal bias and culture can impact the way people interpret illness and interact with the medical system
- Identify your own biases and how they affect your role as a patient navigator
- Demonstrate effective interviewing skills by listing questions you would ask to better understand a patient’s behavior and belief system
Patient Response and Adjustment to Chronic Disease
- Identify a patient’s phases of chronic disease
- Identify typical behaviors and feelings for each disease phase
- Describe how to respond to patients depending on the phase they are in
- Identify factors that impact an individual’s beliefs about their illness
Empowering the Patient
- Describe why it is important to empower patients instead of "doing" for them
- Generate ways to increase a patient’s sense of empowerment
Coping Strategies and Social Support
- Identify emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies and their appropriate use
- Assess patient coping strategies and suggest coping strategies that match the situation
- Describe social support and the forms it can take
- Describe ways to help patients enhance their social support network
- Assess patient support system and identify support needs
Basics of Mental Illness and Crisis Management
- Understand characteristics of common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety
- Assess when it is appropriate to refer a patient to mental health services
- Describe the patient navigator’s role in dealing with a patient crisis
- List three ways to help patients during a crisis
Impact of Illness on Caregivers and Family Members
- Understand the effect of chronic disease on families and caregivers
- Recognize warning signs of caregiver burnout
- Support communication between patient and family or caregivers
- List caregiver resources such as support groups and information for patient families and caregivers
Learning Objectives: End of Life and Palliative Care
- Understand the purpose of a Living Will, Durable Medical Power of Attorney (DMPOA), and Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)
- Recognize when patients and families are ready to talk about end-of-life choices.
- When medical treatments are not working, recognize clues that indicate patients are ready to shift to comfort care (palliative care)
- Explain end-of-life choices to patients and families
- Describe hospice care and philosophy to a patient or family
- Recognize the range of diversity in patients’ and families’ approach to life-ending illness
- Discuss how a medical bill of rights supports societal and cultural values
- Describe how saying goodbye to a patient or family is helpful after a working relationship is finished
- Describe how letting go and dealing with loss is an important skill for a medical professional
Learning Objectives: Professional Conduct
Ethical Decision Making
- Identify and address ethical concerns
- Evaluate value sets and workplace value tensions
- Analyze different approaches to decision making
- Apply values-based decision-making to specific issues
Patient Confidentiality and Bill of Rights
- List day-to-day activities that involve patient confidentiality and are subject to HIPAA regulations
- Describe the main components of the Patient’s Bill of Rights
Professional Boundaries
- Describe the role professional boundaries has in helping patients
- Understand the relationship between personal boundaries and burn-out
- List risky behaviors that lead to boundary violations
- Describe ways to maintain healthy boundaries
- Identify the benefits of stress-management
- Create a healthy boundaries plan
Learning Objectives: Patient Navigator Basic Skills and Resources
Patient Assessment and Communication
- Describe the role and responsibility of the patient navigator
- Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal and active listening skills
- Identify patient strengths and barriers to care
- Describe elements of an effective patient relationship
- List potential roadblocks to communication
- Identify characteristics of effective communication with collaborators
Patient Resources
- Create a community resource map
- Demonstrate effective skills and describe strategies for working with community agencies, healthcare team members, and patient resource organizations
- Use resource directories to find local and national resources
- List three ways to find helpful resources
- Demonstrate matching of appropriate resources to client needs
- Identify characteristics of credible and non-credible sources of information
Learning Objectives: Health Promotion
Health Disparities
- Describe how patient navigators can help prevent chronic disease
- Define the terms: “social determinants of health“ and “health disparities“
- Identify common causes of health disparities
Health Literacy
- Describe characteristics that increase or decrease the reading level of health information
- Re-write a paragraph at a reading level of 6th grade or lower
- List at least two ways to deliver a health message
- Match the health literacy of a resource to a patient’s literacy level
Patient Assessment
- Assess client readiness to make decisions
- Apply the five elements of health beliefs to reduce barriers to care and deliver health messages
- Utilize culturally competent questioning to understand client’s cultural health beliefs
Advanced Care Coordination
Care Coordination and Resource Systems
- Describe the role of the navigator on the patient care team in developing an effective patient-centered treatment plan
- Map the core provider team members for your chronic disease area
- Map supportive provider professionals in your organization such as physical therapists, counselors, social workers, nutrition counselors, or radiology oncologists
- Define the roles and describe the appropriate use of emergency, primary, urgent and specialty care providers
- Describe how to facilitate access and use of health care coverage programs
Healthcare Collaboration Skills
- Describe how collaborating differs from networking or "working with" others
- Identify people inside and outside your institution with whom to build collaborative relationships
- Describe qualities of a collaborative relationship such as open communication, trust, and shared decision-making
- Identify conditions that encourage collaboration
- Identify the qualities of an effective collaborative relationship
Patient Coaching
- Assess patient needs and anticipate barriers and challenges to health care
- Describe key strategies for preparing patient for medical visits
- Demonstrate effective patient communication techniques including reframing and reflective listening
- Demonstrate health behavior change techniques such as motivational interviewing and patient coaching
Advanced Professional Conduct
Ethical Decision Making
- Describe theories and principles of healthcare ethics using stories and case studies
- Identify strategies for patient navigators to practice preventive ethics
- Analyze and present ethical issues from several perspectives