Participating Pilot Sites
Three American Indian clinics were selected and funded based on location (i.e., rural, suburban, urban) and clinic type (i.e., IHS clinic, tribal clinic, non-reservation clinic).
- Yakama Indian Health Clinic (a rural, IHS reservation clinic)
- Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (a suburban, tribally-managed reservation clinic)
- Native American Rehabilitation Association (an urban, non-reservation clinic)
In October 2003, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was received, and patient enrollment and data collection began. Patients were eligible to enroll in the NW PNP upon receiving a cancer diagnosis.
The Yakama Indian Health Clinic will conduct patient navigation activities through September 2006. Yakama employs a full-time Navigator - a support person with ties to the medical and social services communities - to connect patients to the services they need in a timely manner.
The Puyallup Tribal Health Authority concluded its pilot program participation in September 2005. Due to changes in clinic structure, the Native American Rehabilitation Association withdrew from the pilot in 2004.
