Patient Navigation as an Approach to Improve the Integration of Care: The Case of NaviCare/SoinsNavi

Children and youth with complex care needs require more and varied healthcare services than the average population, as well as a high degree of coordinated care. Evidence has shown that these individuals and their families have better outcomes if they have access to integrated care. Patient navigation can serve as a novel approach to improve the integration of care for individuals with complex care needs in an increasingly fragmented system. NaviCare/SoinsNavi is an example of a navigation centre for children and youth with complex care needs, their families, and the care team. This research-based service is aimed at facilitating more convenient and integrated care using a personalized family-centred approach. NaviCare/SoinsNavi employs two patient navigators who work with clients to formulate and prioritize goals based on their unmet needs. The centre serves as a living laboratory, which provides researchers, knowledge users, and clients a real life setting where innovative ideas can be explored, evaluated, modified as needed throughout the research process, and moved into policy in an efficient manner. Patient navigation programs can contribute to decreasing fragmentation, improving access, and promoting integrated care across disciplines, settings, and sectors for individuals across the lifespan.