MDNews - Greater Kansas

F OR PATIENTS, VISITING a hospital can be overwhelming. In addition to dealing with the reality of a disease or procedure, they must schedule follow-up appointments, fill out paperwork and — sometimes — make life-changing decisions, all in an unfamiliar and stressful environment. But the process can also be challenging for physicians who refer those patients to the hospital. Physicians want to know what is happening with their patients and remain a part of their care plan. But in large, complex organizations, that communication back to the physician doesn't always occur. So the Wesley Medical Center family of campuses, which includes Galichia Heart Hospital, has created several positions to help bridge the communication gap between hospitals, patients and their physicians. Called nurse navigators, these healthcare experts help patients find their way through the often-complex process of visits and treatments and answer any questions they might have. They also work to keep refer- ring physicians informed and involved in patients' care. Navigators — all registered nurses or advanced practices nurses — have been designated for several services, including women's health, orthopedics and Wesley's new structural heart program. Helping Women Cope with Complex Issues Any mother can be overwhelmed with a new baby, and Ashley Rumford had just given birth to triplets. "Ashley looked frazzled," says Jolinda Kelley, Wesley's nurse navigator for Women's Services. "I asked her how I could help. She held up a stack of paperwork. Paperwork wasn't what she really needed to focus on. I asked again, and she said she really wanted to take a shower. So I helped with that first." A registered nurse, Kelley is able to help patients manage multiple health issues before, during and after hospitalization. She is available to help navigate patients through financial and community resources, while also serving as a liaison between the hospital and patients' physicians. "Many patients come here from hours away for high-risk pregnancies and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit services," Kelley says. "When you're that far removed from your care team at home, it's really important that we as a hospital work to keep that patient's physicians up-to-date on what's going on with her." She adds: "The complexity of the health- care system can be overwhelming, and not just for patients. That's why I'm here." Promoting Faster Healing after Hip and Knee Procedures The orthopedic programs at Wesley and Galichia provide a comprehensive approach to joint replacement that Andrea Gallardo, APRN, Wesley Structural Heart Nurse Navigator, reviews a patient scan in the Wesley cath lab. PHOTOS © WESLEY MEDICAL CENTER Wesley Nurse Navigators Helping Connect Patients and Physicians COV ER FE AT UR E 6 | Greater Kansas MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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