Alberta Community Health Navigation
“I think it gave my morale a lift. It was nice to be able to talk to somebody and be active. Physical health, I got more activity. Emotional health, it was good to be able to talk to somebody and share and not think I’m something out in left field.”
-CHN Program Patient
What is the Community Heath Navigation Program?
The Community Health Navigator (CHN) program helps people optimize their care experience and improve their quality of life. Working with the CHN program, patients overcome barriers to achieve better health. Through goal setting the program promotes and encourages positive self-management, providing patient-centred resources, support and services. An extension of the primary care team into the community, CHNs accompany patients on their health care journey.
“I really see a difference in my patients’ ability to navigate the system, understand next steps”
-Physician
Who are CHNs
Community Health Navigators (CHNs) are primary health care team members. They are community experts who have extensive knowledge of the resources, support, and services available to a patient. CHNs meet with patients in a comfortable environment, like health clinics, community or their home.
CHNs walk alongside patients in their journey towards health doing with rather than for, focusing on building both skills and confidence.
“The client-centred focus allows us to honour our patients’ journey while simultaneously empowering them to reach towards their self-identified goals.”
-Community Health Navigator
The Research
The CHN program was developed and evaluated by ENCOMPASS; a research partnership between the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, and multiple Primary Care Networks (PCNs) studying the impact of patient navigation for patients with chronic disease. An evidence-based theory on how CHNs help people was developed from the literature and refined using data collected during the ENCOMPASS studies. The insights from the study inform the existing model of delivery for the CHN program.
“Social determinants of health get overlooked so much and I think CHNs are able to address some of that. I think that they have a strong impact on people’s wellbeing. So, I see a lot of value there.”
-Registered Dietitian