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On September 30, 2008 Tina Beerman and Sharon Francz of the NCONN Executive Committee traveled to Harlem, New York, to meet with Dr Harold P. Freeman of the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center. Dr Freeman led a tour of the Center, and explained how Patient Navigation is an essential, integral link in the cancer treatment. Twenty years ago Dr Freeman developed the Patient Navigation Program, which relies upon Navigation to overcome barriers to effective patient care.

 

Dr Freeman has most graciously endorsed NCONN and its mission to support the Oncology Nurse Navigator.

 

In November, Tina and Sharon were invited to the C-Change 10th Annual Conference in College Station, Texas held at the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library. C-Change Executive Director Tom Kean used the occasion to invite NCONN to apply for membership to the organization. This will lend credibility to the role of Navigation in Cancer Care, and enhance NCONN’s relationship with many key organizations in the cancer care arena. C-Change is a high level organization whose members are from the non-profit, private and public sectors. The co-chairs of C-Change are George H.W. and Barbara. Key members include the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, as well as many of the pharmaceutical companies.

 

NCONN used the trip to C-Change to host a member’s dinner in Houston. This well-attended event provided the NCONN with valuable input from local members and Oncology Nurse Navigators, social workers and case managers interested in learning more about navigation and NCONN.

 

NCONN attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December, hosting two membership dinners, sponsored by Genomic Health and Genentech BioOncology.

 

In January, NCONN Board members met with the leadership of ONS in Pittsburgh, PA. In this meeting, NCONN and ONS discussed the importance of the role of the Oncology Nurse Navigator and leadership role that NCONN is taking in developing the professional organization structure to support the ONN. Look for the NCONN link on the ONS website.

 

Tina Beerman, NCONN President and Sharon Francz, NCONN Treasurer, attended a meeting with the Oncology Roundtable personnel who have been instrumental in investigating and reporting on the role of patient navigation in cancer care. The Oncology roundtable is interested in working with NCONN to continue to explore the value of navigation as a patient satisfaction tool and will be linking visitors to their website to the NCONN website. If your organization is a member of the Advisory Board and Oncology Roundtable, look for NCONN on their website.

 

In Other News............
In December of 2008, MaryAnn Thiel of Monroe, New Jersey became the 100th member of NCONN, after only six months since NCONN opened for membership. We are anticipating breaking the 500 member barrier by the end of 2009. Why not help it happen? If every member invites a colleague to become a member, we will move closer to that mark in no time. There is power in numbers and the voice of the ONN will grow louder and more powerful as we expand our reach across the country.

 

NCONN traveled to Hollywood, Florida for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network meeting in March, as an exhibitor. There was intense interest in the organization by the many nurses and cancer program administrators that stopped by the booth for information.
In April, we are going to the ONS Conference in San Antonio where NCONN will also have a booth. Hope to see you there, too!

 

And Now This:
Save the Date! Make the Date! NCONN’s first Annual National Conference ‘Changing the Face of Cancer Care.’ is scheduled for October 10, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Harold Freeman, Medical Director of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care, Harlem, New York, Dr Freeman is well known as the the Father of Patient Navigation. This exciting agenda also features Steve Patierno, Ph.D from George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C. Dr. Patierno is the Principal Investigator for the NCI Patient Navigation Research Program in Washington.

 

Of special interest to all navigators is the topic of how to justify your job to your facility administration. Amy Deutsch, DNP(c), RN, CNS, OCN from Memorial Hermann Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Amy will be presenting information about how to satisfy the “beancounter”. A date to be saved, An event not to be missed. Find updates on the nconn.org web site Conference page.

 

Who’s On Board

2008 Donors:

Howard County General Hospital, a Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine
B B & T Bank
Genentech Bio Oncology
Genomic Health
Over 50 Individual donors and supporters

 

Members:
Over 120 Nurse Navigators, in 28 States