Working Under the Business Name of NAN
About Me
I am a Registered and Occupational Health Nurse with 30+ years experience in hospital, community, long term care, educational and private organizational settings. I have worked in acute medical surgical and emergency room settings and also developed, managed and delivered occupational health programs for healthy and injured employees in several different environments. I have a sincere passion for supporting people and their families to navigate and advocate for healthcare rights and needs. Having a loved one or being the person yourself undergoing diagnosis, tests or treatment can be stressful and overwhelming. It's so important to understand your options and care plan. Not everyone has a medical background and or the knowledge on how to navigate the healthcare system. Nurse Advocates & Navigators can offer you this support.
"A single act of kindness
can cause ripples of healing"
Anonymous
What Brought You Here Today?
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Are you or a loved one seriously ill, experiencing cognitive decline (dementia) or seriously injured?
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Are you feeling overwhelmed as you undergo treatment with multiple specialists?
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Are you struggling to keep track of it all?
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Are you having trouble getting all of the information and answers you need?
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Do you find you don’t have the experience, the time, or live too far away from your loved one to provide support at appointments, treatments, or hospital/residential care?
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Is your loved one being discharged from hospital with no support or equipment to receive them?
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Are you an Organization looking for Occupational Health Services/Supports or Program Development?
Nurse Advocates & Navigators are a part of your team!
Services Available
Healthcare Navigation
A healthcare navigator is an important and integral part of your team who walks beside you and provides supports along the way. The healthcare navigator enhances communication, collaboration and reduces stress for all.
Services include, but are not limited to:
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General consultation with client and family/support systems
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Support and attendance at physician/specialist appointments, note taking and provision of summaries/report
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Attendance in hospital or residential care
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Attending client/family/healthcare provider meetings to improve communication and care plans
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Support discharge planning from hospital to home/other facility in collaboration with healthcare team
Fees:
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$150/hour
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$200/hour if weekend/after hours
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Retainer - minimum 2 hours
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10+ hours: 10% discount
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Unused hours can be credited and or donated
Typically anywhere between1-3 hours as includes travel/follow up report
Client Case Management and or Occupational Health Services
When you or a loved one is alone, aging, ill, or injured at work, home or play a healthcare navigator can act as a case manager for providing supportive care. This greatly reduces time and stress for care teams and families during these challenging times.
Services include, but are not limited to:
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Tracking and reminding clients of healthcare appointments
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Attendance at appointments
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Providing families with summaries of doctors recommendations and notes
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Call 'check ins' as needed
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Supporting a person with return to work and treatment plans after injury or illness in workplace
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Supporting Organizations in return to work and or general Occupational Health Programs implementation
Fees:
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$150/hour
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$200/hour if weekend/after hours
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Retainer TBD/discussed in advance - minimum 4 hours
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10+ hours: 10% discount
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Unused hours can be credited and or donated
Variable time depending on needs
Advocacy & Formal Complaints
An Advocate supports and helps lead the way when appropriate care has been inadequate and or not been provided and will help be your voice when concerns or complaints need to be elevated.
Services include, but are not limited to:
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Consultations and review of supporting documentation
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Offering verbal and written communication to resolve issues
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Coordination and attendance at patient/family meetings to resolve conflict
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Writing, submitting and escalating letters of complaint to facilities or professional healthcare colleagues.
Fees:
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$150/hour
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$200/hour if weekend/after hours
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Retainer - minimum 10 hours
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Unused hours can be credited and or donated
Advocacy takes time and extensive, specialized experience. This service can take anywhere from 10 hours and up
Coffee & your referrals keep my business going - thank you!
Testimonials
I've known Joanne for over 20 years both professionally and personally. She is very aware of our complex medical system. Her experience includes working in essential healthcare areas in hospitals, community and management. Joanne has integrity and will not compromise her values. I have had a personal experience in our healthcare system that failed me. Joanne assisted me through a very difficult time dealing with cancer care. Her knowledge, caring and desire to right the wrong done to me was so important to my ability to go forward. Anyone needing help navigating would be wise to have Joanne assist you to achieve appropriate healthcare. Joanne is the number one person I would recommend to assist my family and friends to navigate our broken healthcare system.
Nancy C
Joanne has been a life saver for our family – literally! My poor 87-year-old dad was admitted to the hospital in an ambulance for symptoms indicative of a mild stroke. I arrived at the emergency ward shortly after he arrived to find him propped up in a chair in the waiting room. As unfathomable as this may seem, we remained there for the next 16 hours. Countless attempts to get him into a bed while he waited to see a doctor were unsuccessful. When he finally did see a doctor, they were content with doing a simple physical and releasing him, without even a CT scan. At that point I called Joanne and asked her to step in and help. We asked to speak to the doctor, informed her that we had personal family Nurse Advocate, and at that moment EVERYTHING CHANGED IN AN INSTANT. My dad was readmitted back into the ‘system’, was placed in priority for the CT scan, was placed in a wheelchair, and received the CT scan within 45 minutes. The CT scan showed evidence of minor strokes (TIAs). The entire scenario was remarkable – once the doctor was advised that we had a Nurse Advocate, the doctor literally fought to get my dad prioritized for the next scan. Thank you, Joanne, for all you’ve done to help our family. We hate to think where we’d be without you. BTW – my dad has fully recovered and is doing fine.
When confronted with a health issue, most people experience fear and uncertainty. Often because their health is in the hands of complete strangers in the medical field. Regardless of how capable the medical professionals are, building a trusting relationship between patient and doctor in one or two appointments is hard. This is where Joanne's expertise and experience is vital. She helps build that relationship by asking the right questions, and being a trusted person to support in explaining the answers. I have witnessed Joanne help people in these situations to ask the right questions and understand prognosis. Joanne's success in this area is due not only to her education and experience, but first and foremost, to her care and concern for others.
Trina C
Mark L
