Navigating Patients to Available Medical Services

After moving to PEI and leaving her New Brunswick family doctor and specialists behind, Jill McDougall had concerns about maintaining her health and navigating the health care system on PEI. While on the wait list to receive a family doctor, Jill’s NB specialists required follow up testing but did not know where to start.

“The Patient Navigator became an advocate for my health and was able to provide answers to my specialist in New Brunswick to book the required tests to be completed on PEI and limit off Island travel,” said Jill McDougall. “Mary Laura has been an advocate on several occasions to make sure I am accessing the available services.”

As a single focus point for coordination of health care services, Mary Laura Coady, Health PEI’s Patient Navigator, was able to work closely with Jill’s specialist in New Brunswick to ensure that the required testing would be completed on Island.

“As a patient navigator, my job is to find solutions and to overcome the obstacles you face while navigating the medical system, especially under current COVID-19 restrictions,” says Mary Laura Coady, Patient Navigator for Health PEI. “It is also important to set realistic expectations and provide insight on community resources that patients are unaware of.”

Mary Laura focuses on coaching patients and families on what to expect from the PEI health care, while, navigating patients towards current community programs that are available to maintain their health before seeing a health care providers.

For more information about this service, visit Patient Navigator.