Northshore Technical Community College

Patient Navigator Program
(A $1,000.00 stipend is available to the first 15 students enrolled in the Patient Navigator Program)

Associate of Applied Science Degree-Patient Navigator Professional
Lacombe Area Campus

NTCC offers a Patient Navigator Program, an accelerated pathway that allows a student to earn the Associate of Applied Science in Patient Navigator Professional degree. The program features a classroom design that blends on-campus coursework, hands-on skills practice.

Program Overview:

Start Date: Fall and Spring Cohorts
Location: Lacombe Area Campus
Program Length: Five semesters
Total Credits: 70

View the curriculum at this link: Patient Navigator Curriculum

What Is a Patient Navigator?
Health care can be confusing and hard to manage, especially for patients facing a new diagnosis, a chronic illness, or barriers like cost, transportation, or language. A Patient Navigator is a trained, nonclinical professional who guides patients and families through the health care system, helping them get the care they need when they need it.

How Patient Navigators Help Patients

• Help patients understand their care and treatment plan, appointments, and next steps
• Schedule and coordinate appointments, referrals, and follow-up care
• Connect patients with community resources such as transportation, financial assistance, housing, and food support
• Help patients understand and navigate insurance, billing, and coverage questions • Identify and help remove barriers to care, such as cost, distance, language, or health literacy
• Serve as a link between patients, families, and the health care team
• Encourage patients to ask questions and take an active role in their own care
• Provide support and follow-up throughout the patient's care journey
• Reinforce education provided by the health care team by sharing approved materials, supporting health literacy, and encouraging patients to bring questions back to their providers

What Patient Navigators Do Not Do
Patient Navigation is a nonclinical role. Patient Navigators do not:

• Diagnose medical conditions or provide medical advice
• Prescribe, recommend, or administer medications
• Perform hands-on clinical care or medical procedures
• Interpret test results or change a patient's treatment plan
• Make health care decisions for patients
• Replace the role of doctors, nurses, or other licensed health care providers

Why Become a Patient Navigator?
Patient Navigators make a real difference in patients' lives and help improve health outcomes in their communities. Navigators work in hospitals, cancer centers, clinics, physician offices, and community health organizations. No prior health care experience is required to begin the program.

About NTCC's Patient Navigator Program
NTCC's Patient Navigator Program prepares students for the Certified Professional Patient Navigator (CPPN) exam through the Patient-Centered Education & Research Institute (PCERI). Students complete classroom instruction along with field experience at local health care partner sites. New cohorts begin each Fall and Spring.

What's next?
You can reach out to the Patient Navigator Program email if you have questions specific to the program. Please be advised that most information is available above. We thank you for your interest in the Patient Navigator Program and we are looking forward to offering this educational opportunity to the Northshore area. 

Questions? Contact Us
If you have additional questions about college pre- and/or co-requisite courses, you can schedule with Academic Advising.

For questions specific to the Patient Navigator Program, you may contact either of the following:

Stephanie Andrews, MSN, RN, Director, Patient Navigator Program
Email: stephanieandrews@northshorecollege.edu
Phone: 985.545.1288

Patient Navigator Program Email
pnavprogram@northshorecollege.edu

Please be advised that most information is available above. We thank you for your interest in the Patient Navigator Program and we look forward to offering this health care educational opportunity to the Northshore area. If you are planning to send an email, please include the following information:

If you are planning to send an email please provide the following information with your email:

• Name
• Phone Number
• Please list an alternative email address if needed

(With this information we can provide you with future information about the Patient Navigator Program)