Developing a Provincial Cancer Patient Navigation Program Utilizing a Quality Improvement Approach. Part Three:...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement Science
• Cancer Care Delivery

Background:

• A provincial quality improvement project was initiated in Alberta in 2012.
• The project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a provincial Cancer Patient Navigation (CPN) program.
• Funding was provided by the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) from April 2012 to March 2014.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the evaluation approach used in the provincial Cancer Patient Navigation (CPN) quality improvement project.
• To report on the outcomes achieved through this initiative.
• To discuss key learnings and future steps for program expansion.

Main Methods:

• This article focuses on the evaluation approach and outcomes of the CPN QI project.
• Previous articles in the series detailed the program's knowledge base, implementation methodology, and education framework.
• This final article synthesizes the evaluation findings.

Main Results:

• The QI project successfully developed and implemented a provincial Cancer Patient Navigation program across 15 diverse sites.
• The program aimed to improve cancer care delivery over a vast geographical area.
• Specific outcomes measured are detailed in this article, contributing to the understanding of CPN effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The provincial Cancer Patient Navigation program demonstrated success through its quality improvement evaluation.
• Key learnings from the project inform future strategies for enhancing cancer patient navigation.
• Subsequent steps have been taken to broaden the program's scope and impact across Alberta.