Published 8 hours ago
Posted by Teachings of Gilead
Olivia Sloan was pursuing a career in health policy and research when her father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The devastating news put her work on hold and she returned home to Santa Fe, New Mexico to help care for her dad.
Four years later, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Olivia, whose mother is Navajo and Tohono O’odham, has spent much of that time helping her parents navigate treatment at CHRISTUS St. Regional Cancer Center. Vincent. She is grateful that her education and work experience have helped her as an advocate on behalf of the family, but she knows not everyone is able to do so.
It’s fitting that today Olivia is a registered nurse at a cancer center and leads the Native Health Navigator (NHN) program, which was launched last July thanks to Gilead’s Toward Health Equity Oncology Grant. Through the grant, Gilead partners with organizations that share its goal of transforming cancer care by increasing access and eliminating barriers to health care.
Depending on a patient’s tribal affiliation and where they live, diagnosis and treatment often require referral to an unfamiliar system – which can be both confusing and intimidating for patients. That’s where the NHN program helps, by connecting breast cancer patients referred from the Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal or municipal clinics to care at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center.
“Stepping outside of the Native American health care system can be daunting,” says Olivia. “The cultural needs of our patients really stand out, so we knew we had to do more to serve Native American patients in a genuine, authentic and culturally sensitive way.”
Shayna Grandbois-Herrera of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe was hired as the program’s first navigator. It provides support every step of the way, from meeting transportation needs to appointments and childcare to navigating complex insurance payment processes. It even provides patients with access to groceries and nutritious meals.
Emotional and physical stress in people struggling with breast cancer increases the challenges of care. Having to see new doctors can increase the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis, but the NHN program provides patients with a human bridge to help them navigate screening, diagnosis and treatment.
For Amy, an Indian mother of two, having a navigator made a difference. In January, she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, but she was doing so well in life that she did not plan to start treatment. But getting to know Shayna through the NHN program changed that. Today, Amy attends numerous doctor visits each week, and Shayna communicates with healthcare providers as needed.
“No one should feel alone when they have a diagnosis,” says Shayna. “Every patient deserves a warm hug.”
Both Olivia and Shayna hope that the program will ultimately help reduce the number of late-stage breast cancer cases in their community. “We know that the mortality rate among Native Americans with cancer is much higher,” says Olivia. “The program helps remove fear and other barriers so we can get patients into care earlier.”
The organization, which launched the program just a few months later, is already seeing a difference in patients’ willingness and ability to receive breast cancer treatment. They are often initially apprehensive about the unfamiliar health care system, but through the NHN program they gain a guide from their cultural background who understands their experience and can help transform their health outcomes.
“Caring for and working with Native American patients, respecting individual tribes and their sovereignty, and working with them as true partners in improving health care is a truly beautiful vision and goal for our state and our communities,” Olivia concludes.
Originally published by Gilead Sciences
Teachings of Gilead
Teachings of Gilead
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening diseases around the world. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries around the world and is headquartered in Foster City, California.
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