Karli Smallwood, Certified Patient Navigator for PCF
Once someone receives a diagnosis of cancer there world is turned upside down. They are thrown into a complex world of cancer care involving doctors, nurses, lab tests, xrays, and chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It is often overwhelming. This is why PCF has established the Patient Navigation Program. Patient Navigation is on the cutting edge of holistic cancer care for patients. We have a professionally trained certified Oncology Patient Navigator, Karli Smallwood, to meet with patients and help them navigate the maze of cancer care here in Maui. Karli has been able to serve over 135 patients in our programs first year alone.
Here is the story of one of those people: “I have been navigating a lovely lady named Veesakha (Sa) Thaipituck for the past 14 months. She was originally referred to me by Dr. Lyons from Maui Medical Group following surgery for colon cancer. Originally from Thailand, and living here on Maui without any family, Dr. Lyons felt that Sa was a good candidate for patient navigation services. I have been deeply honored to work with Sa.
What does a Patient Navigator do for you? CLICK on this link to see a video from WSJ
Karli Smallwood, Certified Patient Navigator for PCF
Following Dr. Lyons’ referral, and while she still recovered in the hospital, it was discovered that Sa had another cancer – non-Hodgkins lymphoma. You can imagine how completely overwhelming this was for Sa – 2 cancers in a matter of days. My first step was to establish and build trust and rapport with Sa – doing so enabled me to provide emotional support during this vulnerable time, the beginning of her journey with cancer.
There have been many twists and turns in this journey of Sa’s. There have been hospitalizations, the escalation of her colon cancer due to immune system suppression resulting from treatment of the lymphoma, a couple more surgeries and new chemotherapy related to the colon cancer. I have been able to function as the eyes and ears for her surgeon and medical oncologist keeping them updated on psychosocial issues and how Sa is doing in general. In fact, one of these updates allowed surgical intervention for a better outcome that might have otherwise been missed.
One of the goals of navigation is to continually empower the patient to actively participate in their care and healing – providing information is one of the ways this is accomplished. Finally, while Sa has been able to take advantage of wonderful employee benefits from her employer, the total dollar amount has not been enough to keep her afloat with the numerous co-pays she has incurred. I have been able to navigate Sa to several community resources available and help her apply for State assistance as well.
Sa is a model patient – she pays attention, asks questions of her care providers, follows doctors care orders and instructions, and does her personal spiritual work to keep herself connected to life. Even with a ‘barf bag’ up to her face, there is a smile in her beautiful eyes – she is grateful for life, so appreciative of her health care team, and has said, “I would have been lost without you Miss Karli.” In turn, Sa has been an excellent teacher to me. Thank you Sa for allowing me to help guide you on this life-changing/life-affirming journey.
For more information about how you can get a referral from your doctor to receive free Patient Navigation services from PCF, please call us at 808-243-2999.
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