In 2007, when East Jefferson General Hospital became a member of the MD Anderson Cancer Network, EJGH introduced Debbie Schmitz as the region’s first ever Cancer Care Navigator.
This highly personalized approach has proved to be immensely helpful to patients. Once diagnosed, cancer patients enter a world of unfamiliar terminologies, appointments, treatments and medications. The navigator’s function is to eliminate the mystery and uncertainty of care and help streamline the process so all the patient has to think about is getting well.