How local family medicine practice’s nurse navigators serve as patient advocates
Stepfanie Romine,
for San Juan Regional Medical Center
Advocacy is a topic that is frequently discussed in health care these days. Patients are encouraged to be their own advocates or to assign a loved one to fill that role. In health care, advocacy can help patients feel empowered and cared for, but it can also be a heavy load to bear while navigating a chronic illness, yet-to-be-diagnosed condition or other health care issue.
That’s why San Juan Health Partners Family Medicine Farmington now has two full-time nurse navigators on staff. The practice, a primary care clinic for adult patients who do not currently have a primary health care provider, also includes one family medicine physician and two family nurse practitioners.