Patient navigator in Milpark is a helping hand for breast cancer patients
MILPARK – Netcare Milpark Breast Care Centre of Excellence provides the assistance of a nurse navigator to guide and assist patients.
A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing experience and it is common for individuals to feel overwhelmed at the journey that lies ahead of them.
However, the Netcare Milpark Breast Care Centre of Excellence now provides the services of a navigator to assist and guide patients through the process.
“As far as I am aware, the Netcare Milpark Breast Care Centre of Excellence is the only centre that has a fully qualified nurse navigator,” said patient navigator Krupa Parekh-Padia.
Parekh-Padia recently completed her Breast Patient Navigator Certification Examination in the United States with flying colours and earned CN-BN credentials, which is the certification given to nurses trained in breast care, diagnostic imaging, treatment, survivorship or genetics.
“It is a first for South Africa, having a navigation team under myself trained in looking after all aspects of a patient’s care, from pre-diagnosis [radiology navigation] through treatment to survivorship,” said the 27-year-old, who recently returned to South Africa.
READ 10 facts about breast cancer that could save your life
“I track the patient from diagnosis through treatment to recovery, ensuring a smooth transition from one phase of treatment to the next, serving as the point of communication between the patient and the various medical professionals who play a role in their treatment.”
The centre, established by renowned specialist surgeon and breast disease specialist, Prof. Carol-Ann Benn, in association with Netcare, has recently become the only such centre in Africa to receive a three-year, full accreditation by the National Accreditation Programme for Breast Centres, administered by the American College of Surgeons.
Parekh-Padia said her role as a member of the multidisciplinary team was to also help facilitate communication between the various medical disciplines in each case.
She said that her role as a navigator allows her to help patients work through their fears and anxieties. She also answers any questions they may have about the process including lifestyle changes and how to deal with obstacles they may face. Parekh-Padia also added that her overall goal is to relieve patients of some of the stress and to make the process as manageable as possible.
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