Indigenous Patient Navigation (IPN)
Eastern Health & First Light collaboration
The Indigenous Patient Navigator Program is a partnership between Eastern Health and First Light – St. John’s Friendship Centre. Launched in 2009, the program was created to support Indigenous patients and their families who travel to St. John’s for medical appointments.
Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) serve to bridge the gap between Indigenous patients and health care professionals, helping to ensure culturally safe, respectful, and informed care.
Services the IPNs may provide are:
- Providing referral and/or advocacy to Indigenous patients to ensure access to the most appropriate health care options
- Navigation to and escorting patients to appointments
- Arranging translation services in Innu-Aimun and Inuktitut, if needed/requested
- Assisting patients to access meals, transportation, accommodations, medical supplies and discharge planning
