The role of system navigators in community health during the COVID-19 pandemic

The role of system navigators in community health during the COVID-19 pandemic

03 June, 2020

Nexus is a community health centre with a large GP clinic that has a number of projects with EMPHN including the After Hours Medical Neighbourhood project (AHMNP). 

The AHMNP has found itself mobilising as a triage facility during COVID-19, particularly for high risk clients who find it hard to engage into services at the best of times. There has been increased hesitancy by clients to present for face to face consultations which has seen a need for the AHMNP to respond, through its role as a system navigator, by:

  • providing follow up with their regular clients who are most at risk, such as those with chronic, newly diagnosed and mental health conditions, which has given confidence to high risk clients to continue to engage with services within their community.
  • assuring clients that it is still safe to come in to access face to face services and providing telehealth as an option for clients where possible, helping keep clients from presenting at EDs after hours.
  • coordinating referrals for allied health, GPs and specialist services and navigating clients through the system, which has changed considerably during the pandemic.
  • providing a support network for clients who are on waitlists, ensuring they have an avenue to reach out while they wait, sometimes up to several weeks, for telehealth services.