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Patient Navigation Training and Resources

The GW Oncology Patient Navigation Training: The Fundamentals, launched in 2015, has provided free training for more than 12,000 patient navigators from over 42 countries. It has been adapted for speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. Given major updates to the patient navigation field, GW launched an updated training in 2025. To update the training, current literature was examined, new standards and resources were gathered, and 15 subject matter experts were asked to suggest updates, revisions, and new resource additions. These experts are listed below along with the presenter of each lesson.  

Updates to the training included streamlining content, adding new resources, and expanding resources for greater inclusivity. New resources that were included were: the AONN+/ American Cancer Society Navigation Metrics Toolkit, AONN+ CATCH resources, the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice, the GW Patient Navigation Barriers and Outcomes Tool (PN-BOT), the GW Community Needs Assessment Guide, and the GW Financial Navigation lesson. 

The updated GW Oncology Patient Navigation Training: The Fundamentals ensures greater inclusivity to diverse populations, updated evidence and resources critical to the navigation profession, and improvements to the learner experience. The training continues to adhere to CMS training requirements for auxiliary personnel performing PIN services, and can be accessed at bit.ly/PNTraining

Oncology Patient Navigator Training Resources

Patient Navigator Training Guide - English

Coming soon!

This guide accompanies the updated training and can be useful for review. The guide offers a reduced and compact overview of each lesson. It does not replace the course, but is offered as a complement to enrich and reinforce key takeaways. 

PN Introduction
Introduction
PN Lesson 1 Cover Image
Lesson 1: Cancer Basics: Continuum of Cancer Care
PN Lesson 2 Cover
Lesson 2: Medical Terminology
PN Lesson 3 cover
Lesson 3: What is Patient Navigation and What Does a Navigator do?
PN Lesson 4 Cover
Lesson 4: Team-Based Navigation and Role Delineation
PN Lesson 5 cover
Lesson 5: U.S. Healthcare System, Payment and Financing
PN Lesson 6 cover
Lesson 6: Professional Development and Practice-Based Learning
PN Lesson 7 Cover
Lesson 7: Communicating with Patients and Caregivers
PN Lesson 8 Cover
Lesson 8: Shared Decision-Making and Building Trust
PN Lesson 9 Cover
Lesson 9: Patient Advocacy
PN Lesson 10 cover
Lesson 10: Addressing Barriers to Care with Strengths-based Community and Individual Assessments
PN Lesson 11 Cover
Lesson 11: Ethics and Patient Rights
PN Lesson 12 Cover
Lesson 12: Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement
PN Lesson 13 Cover
Lesson 13: Clinical Trials
PN Lesson 14 Cover
Lesson 14: The Value of Patient Navigation

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Communication Toolkit to Promote Oncology Patient Navigator Training

You can click here to download a zip file to access all of the tools GW has created for you to help share and promote this training. Or please select one of the resources below and help us promote this updated training. 

PN Training Flyer 1

Patient Navigator Training Flyer #1

Download PNG File

Download PDF File

Patient Navigator Training Flyer #2

Download PNG File

Download PDF File

PN Training Flyer 3

Patient Navigator Training Flyer #3

Download PNG File

Download PDF File

PN Training Flyer 4

Patient Navigator Training Flyer #4

Download PNG File

Download PDF File

PN Promo 2
Video

Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training. 

Video

Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training. 

Video

Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training. 

PN Promo 4
Video

Use this video to promote the release of the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training. 

Social Media Messages and Graphics

Message Graphic
The GW Cancer Center Oncology Patient Navigator Training: The Fundamentals UPDATED course is now open! The FREE online training offers 14 CEs and meets CMS training requirements. https://bit.ly/PNTraining
 #TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining
GW Patient Navigation Graphic 1

Patient Navigation is a proven strategy to improve health outcomes. The GW Cancer Center has released the revised Oncology Patient Navigator Training: The Fundamentals course.  It is 100% free, online, self-paced and offers 14 CEs. https://bit.ly/PNTraining
 #TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining

 

GW Patient Navigation Graphic 2
A free training is available that offers 14 CEs and aligns with CMS training requirements for Medicare reimbursement. The GW Cancer Center Oncology Patient Navigator Training: The Fundamentals is revised course is now open. https://bit.ly/PNTraining
#TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining
GW Patient Navigation Graphic 3
The revised Patient Navigator course is now open from the GW Cancer Center. It offers 14 CEs, and is FREE! https://bit.ly/PNTraining
#TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining
 

GW Patient Navigation Graphic 4

The revised Patient Navigator course is now open from the GW Cancer Center. It offers 14 CEs, and is FREE! https://bit.ly/PNTraining
#TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining
 
GW Patient Navigation Graphic 5
The GW Cancer Center Oncology Patient Navigator Training: The Fundamentals revised course is now available. It is free, self-paced and offers 14 CEs. It aligns with the CMS training requirements. https://bit.ly/PNTraining
#TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining  
GW Patient Navigation Graphic 6
Patient navigators are important to cancer control efforts. Share this free training that equips patient navigators to provide comprehensive, evidenced-based care. https://bit.ly/PNTraining
#TAPforPNTraining #gwccTAP #GWPNTraining  
GW Patient Navigation Graphic 6

Acknowledgements

Developing and revising this training was a year-long collaborative process. Below is the list of individuals who assisted in revising the training and content and a list of the presenters for each lesson. 

Subject Matter Experts Included in Training Review

Alex Hurst, MHA

National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Erika Bergeron, MPH

Gallaudet University

Flint Huffman, MEd

National LGBT Cancer Network

Janette Merrill, HDA, CHES

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Jess Quiring, CN-BA, OPN-CG

Patient Navigation Advisors

Julie McMahon, MPH

Susan G. Komen

Katie Garfield, JD

Harvard Law School

Laurie Kierstein, MD, FACS

American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer

Marcela Gaitán, MPH, MA

Nuestra Voces, National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance)

Monica Dean, HON-OPN-CG

Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators

Nancy Peña, OPN-CG, CMI

Navegación de Pacientes Internacional, Inc. (NPI)

Reesa Sherin, MBA, MSN, RN

Association of Cancer Care Centers

Shonta Chambers, MSW

Patient Advocate Foundation

Va’a Tofaeono, MBA

American Samoa Community Cancer Coalitions

Zarek Mena, OPN-CG

Patient Navigation Advisors

Lesson Presenters:

Lesson 1: Cancer Basics: Continuum of Cancer Care
Lesson 11: Ethics and Patient Rights
Reesa Sherin, MSN, RN
Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC)
Lesson 2: Medical Terminology
Lesson 4: Team-Based Navigation and Role Delineation
Lesson 12: Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement
Kelly Angell
GW Cancer Center
Lesson 3: What is Patient Navigation & What Does a Navigator do?
Lesson 8: Shared Decision-Making with Patients and Caregivers
Zarek Mena, OPN-CG
Patient Navigation Advisors
Lesson 5: US Healthcare System, Payment and Financing  Katie Garfield, JD
Harvard Law School
Lesson 6: Professional Development and Practice-Based Learning Nancy Peña
Navegación de Pacientes Internacional (NPI)
Lesson 7: Communication with Patients and Caregivers Shonta Chambers, MSW
Patient Advocate Foundation
Lesson 9: Patient Advocacy
Lesson 10: Strengths-based Individual and Community
Assessments to Address Barriers to Care
Jess Quiring, CN-BA, OPN-CG
Patient Navigation Advisors
Lesson 13: Clinical Trials Janette Merrill, HDA, CHES

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Introduction
Lesson 14: Value of Patient Navigation
Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, PhD, Hon-OPN-CG
GW Cancer Center