The Indigenous Patient Navigator Program (IPN) is a partnership between Eastern Health and First Light – St. John’s Friendship Centre. It began in 2009 to provide support and assistance or Indigenous patients and their families who travel to St. John’s for medical appointment/s. The IPN’s serve to bridge the gap between Indigenous patients and their respective health care professionals.
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