Issue Brief: Integrating Navigators into Care Systems

Best practices (and extensive resource links) for integrating into medical care teams the non-medical staff called Navigators, whose focus is on identifying and addressing client barriers to care and other immediate needs. Best practices include:

• Delineation of roles and responsibilities 
• Inclusion in team activities like daily patient panels and/or during ongoing patient care plan meetings
• Providing access to internal Electronic Health Records in order to understand care plans while also documenting their work with clients
• Clinical supervision to provide feedback and guide their professional development
• Flexibility in working within the clinic and in the field
• Designation of a "champion" to support and advocate for the Navigator as part of the clinical team