Breast Health Navigation Program Enhances Cancer Services at Cape Regional

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – In response to the need in our community for a proactive approach to women’s health issues, Cape Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the implementation of the Breast Health Navigation Program at Cape Regional. This program navigates patients through the healthcare system utilizing the guidance of Certified Breast Health Navigators. The Navigators work together by reducing barriers to care and providing individualized support to each patient.
The Breast Health Navigation Program at Cape Regional provides assistance to patients throughout their care plan – from scheduling appointments, finding local resources and support services, answering insurance questions, tracking appointments and accessing disability and Social Security benefits or when appropriate, financial assistance. The team works collaboratively with other healthcare providers whose goal is to enhance care through an array of programs.
Breast Health Navigators, Joan Lappin, CSW, CN-BM and Terri Netz, RN, OCN, BSN, CN-BN, recently received their Breast Health Navigator Certification from the Harold Freeman Institute in New York City through the National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc.
Theresa Netz has been a member of the Cape Regional team since 1998. She studied nursing at Gloucester County Community College where she received her Registered Nurse Degree. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Stockton University and is a Board-Certified Oncology Nurse. She serves as the Director of Radiation Oncology/Certified Breast Health Navigator at the Thomas and Claire Brodesser Cancer Center at the Medical Center.
Joan Lappin, CSW, CN-BM has been a member of the Cape Regional team since 1991 in Care Management as a Certified Social Worker. Ms. Lappin received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Slippery Rock University and became nationally certified in Social Work in 1991. She presently serves as the Cancer Care Social Worker and Breast Health Navigator at the Brodesser Cancer Center at the Medical Center.
“The Breast Health Navigation Program at Cape Regional works collaboratively with physicians to ensure timely and efficient delivery of breast health services. We also focus on patient-centered care to partner with women to ensure their questions are answered,” stated Theresa Netz, Director of Radiation Oncology at The Brodesser Cancer Center at Cape Regional.
The Breast Health Navigator Certification Program is a certification that has been developed by a peer review team of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC). The NCBC created this program in an effort to minimize, and eventually eliminate, the variances in a breast patient’s continuum of care.
Cape Regional Medical Center is a member of the Penn Cancer Network and an affiliate of Penn Medicine for Cancer Care, Cardiac Care and Vascular Care. Cape Regional Medical Center is accredited by and received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. For additional information on the Medical Center and its programs, please visit our website at www.CapeRegional.com or contact Susan Staeger, Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator at (609) 463-2059.