Ohio has launched a new Pediatric Complex Care Navigation Program designed to help families of children with cancer find medical, financial and support resources through a single point of contact.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff announced the program this week.
The navigation service is intended to reduce the amount of time families spend searching for information after a child receives a cancer diagnosis.
Families can use the program to get help connecting with medical teams, insurance resources, Medicaid information, research and other services related to pediatric cancer care.
The state developed the program after hearing from families about the difficulty of navigating multiple health systems, agencies and support programs while caring for a seriously ill child.
DeWine said the navigator is designed to give families faster access to answers for specific questions instead of requiring parents to independently search through numerous organizations.
The program includes an online resource as well as personalized navigation assistance.
Ohio officials announced the initiative during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
The service is available statewide, including to families receiving pediatric cancer treatment through Northeast Ohio health systems.
The program was influenced by families who described the time and effort required to coordinate treatment, insurance coverage, research information and other support during a child’s cancer care.
The Ohio Department of Health is overseeing the new navigation program.
The state says the service is intended to complement care provided by doctors and hospitals rather than replace medical teams. Navigators can help families identify appropriate resources and make connections based on their questions.
Pediatric cancer treatment can involve multiple specialists, hospitals, insurers and assistance programs. The state’s new system is designed to create a central starting point for families seeking help with those services.
The Pediatric Complex Care Navigation Program is now available to Ohio families dealing with a childhood cancer diagnosis.
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