What should a Patient Navigator do upon encountering a patient's non-compliance?

A Patient Navigator plays a crucial role in supporting patients throughout their healthcare journey, particularly when faced with challenges such as non-compliance with medical advice or treatment plans. The correct approach in this scenario is to assess the reasons for the patient's non-compliance and provide appropriate support.

Understanding the underlying factors contributing to a patient's non-compliance is essential. These factors might include lack of understanding of their condition, financial barriers, mental health issues, cultural beliefs, or simply feeling overwhelmed by their treatment regimen. By taking the time to assess these reasons, the Patient Navigator can tailor their support accordingly, whether it involves providing education, connecting the patient with financial resources, coordinating care with other health professionals, or simply offering emotional support.

This supportive action not only aids in improving patient engagement and adherence to their care plan but also builds a trusting relationship between the patient and the navigator. Consequently, a more informed and supported patient is more likely to achieve better health outcomes, which is ultimately the goal of the healthcare system.

In contrast, terminating the patient relationship, reporting non-compliance to authorities, or ignoring the issue may compromise patient trust, overlook important health disparities, and potentially worsen the patient's health situation. Therefore, the focus must always be on understanding and supporting the patient.