Katie Klar, MSN, RN, remembers a cancer patient who anxiously called her after receiving conflicting information from a provider who was not part of Vanderbilt. The patient heard he may be eligible for the MyOncologyHealth benefit and contacted Klar, a MyHealth Bundles nurse navigator. She discussed the next steps with the patient and even asked a VUMC consulting physician to review his records to reassure him before scheduling an appointment for treatment.
The patient later told Klar how thankful he was. “He was so uncertain when he first called,” said Klar. “Now he was much more relaxed. He said he could trust us.”
In her role as a nurse navigator, Klar guides patients through the treatment process and helps reduce their fear, uncertainty and stress. “During appointments, patients may be flooded with a lot of information, and it can be overwhelming,” she said. “It’s good to regroup with me to help them understand more fully what they’re being told.”
A few major advantages she brings to her job: She’s a registered nurse with 20 years of experience in cancer care at Vanderbilt. “I’ve gotten to know other departments and how they work together,” she explained. “That allows me to help patients weave their way through the system.”
As an RN, in addition to assisting with appointments, sharing educational information and connecting patients with financial counselors and support groups, Klar also provides clinical information regarding medication, surgery techniques, and chemotherapy and radiation therapies.
She also helps patients deal with the side effects and unique aspects of their cancer treatment and procedures, such as “cold capping” —a method where patients wear a special cap to cool the scalp to prevent hair loss. She monitors patients’ charts and is able to translate medical terms into everyday language patients can understand. And she can answer many questions quickly, often without having to refer them to a physician.
“I’m a one-stop shop,” she said. “I’ve taken care of so many people, and I’ve gotten close to a lot of them. I feel I have a lot of empathy and anticipate their questions and needs.”
She even assists patients who do not qualify for the MyOncologyHealth Bundle. “I can still get them pointed in right direction,” she said.
Klar’s favorite part of her job is making patients feel like somebody is there for them. “I get great satisfaction in helping them feel more at ease,” she said. “If I can make their journey a little easier, I’ve done my job.”
