Understood Care
A patient navigator is a trained professional who helps you move through the healthcare system with clarity and confidence. Navigators work alongside your clinicians to remove barriers to care, coordinate appointments, arrange transportation, and connect you with community support. If you feel overwhelmed by medical details or insurance rules, a navigator can simplify what comes next and walk with you through it.
If keeping track of visits and follow up feels stressful, a navigator helps you organize the schedule, confirm what to bring, and set reminders. Navigators can also prepare you for telehealth visits if you prefer a video call
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Navigators help you write down questions, gather past records, and understand how your symptoms and goals should guide each visit. You will feel more prepared and more confident during appointments
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Your navigator explains the purpose of tests, medicines, therapies, and referrals in plain language. They can review common side effects, help you consider risks and benefits, and make sure you know what is typically covered by your plan
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If getting to the clinic is hard, a navigator helps find reliable rides, building access details, and safe mobility routes. For ongoing transportation help, visit https://understoodcare.com/care-types/transportation-help
A navigator can connect you with meal resources, home safety programs, caregiver support, and local social groups. For caregiver tips, see https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/caregiver-support
Navigators help you gather forms, understand prior authorizations, and share required documents with your care team. They can explain the differences between Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and other plan types so you know how services are approved
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Patient navigators can be nurses, social workers, community health workers, or other trained professionals. They are part of a team that includes your primary care clinician, specialists, pharmacists, therapists, and community partners
Navigation programs focus on barrier assessment, care coordination, communication skills, and safe handoffs between settings. Many programs use structured tools to track needs and progress so that your plan is organized and consistent
Navigators follow privacy laws and share information only with your permission or as allowed by law. You remain in control of your choices. Navigators provide unbiased information to support your decisions
Research programs across many health systems show that navigation can shorten the time from an abnormal test to diagnosis, improve the start and completion of treatments, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce missed appointments. Navigation also helps address barriers that lead to inequities in care by linking people to trusted information and community support. These benefits are reported for cancer care and increasingly for other complex and chronic conditions. The consistent theme is practical, person centered help that reduces delays and makes care easier to use
Write one or two goals such as fewer missed appointments, better understanding of a new diagnosis, or safer transportation to care. Share these with your navigator
Gather a recent medication list, allergy list, and the names of your clinicians. Bring your insurance card. If you track blood pressure, glucose, weight, or symptoms, bring your notes
Examples include What will this test change, What are common side effects, What is the plan if my symptoms worsen, and When should I call for help
Ask your primary care clinician or specialist to place a referral for navigation support. If you receive Medicare, ask whether Principal Illness Navigation or Community Health Integration is appropriate for you
Understood Care provides navigation and advocacy services that coordinate appointments, arrange transportation, connect you with mobility equipment suppliers, and help you understand treatment choices and benefits. If you need help with mobility equipment or a home safety review, see https://understoodcare.com/care-types/mobility-equipment. For transportation to and from appointments, visit https://understoodcare.com/care-types/transportation-help. For caregiver guidance, read https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/caregiver-support. If you want a quick overview of patient navigation on our site, see https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/what-is-a-patient-navigator
Yes, when program requirements are met and the service is billed by your clinician using approved codes. This may include Principal Illness Navigation for serious or high risk conditions and Community Health Integration for health related social needs. Coverage in Medicare Advantage plans is common when the same criteria are met. Your navigator and clinician can confirm eligibility for your situation
In most cases your clinician initiates navigation after a visit. If you think navigation would help, ask your primary care clinician or specialist to refer you and document the condition being addressed
Both coordinate care. Navigators focus on removing barriers and guiding you through the system day to day. Case managers are often payer based and focus on authorization and plan rules. Many teams use both so that you receive complete support
Your navigator can join by phone or in person with your permission and the clinic’s approval. They can help you take notes, ask questions, and understand next steps
Yes. Navigators follow privacy rules and only share information as permitted. You control who is included in conversations
Principal Illness Navigation supports a serious or high risk condition that is expected to last at least three months and places you at significant risk of hospitalization or complications. Examples include cancer, advanced heart disease, severe lung disease, serious mental health conditions, and other complex illnesses. Your clinician will confirm whether the definition applies to you
When food access, housing, utilities, or transportation make it hard to follow a care plan, your navigator can connect you with community resources and coordinate with your clinicians. This is part of Community Health Integration in Medicare
No. Navigators support you and your clinicians. They do not diagnose, prescribe, or replace medical advice. They make care easier to use and help you follow the plan that you and your clinicians choose
This content is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.
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Our caring team takes care of the paperwork, claims, and home care so you’re always supported.
