Managing healthcare can become complicated when someone has multiple providers, medications, appointments, hospitalizations or changes in their ability to live independently.
Horizon Care Services’ nurse navigator services help clients and authorized family members organize information, prepare for appointments, understand the next steps in a care transition and coordinate appropriate support at home.
Clinical nursing activities are performed only by appropriately licensed nurses acting within their authorized scope of practice. A nurse navigator does not replace the client’s physician, pharmacist, attorney, financial advisor, emergency medical provider or other licensed professional.
A nurse navigator is a licensed nurse who helps clients and families understand and organize different parts of the healthcare process.
Depending on the client’s needs and the authorized service arrangement, a nurse navigator may help:
The nurse navigator supports communication and organization but does not independently control the client’s medical treatment.
Nurse navigator services may be helpful when:
A nurse navigator may be engaged for a specific transition or as part of an ongoing support arrangement.
The process begins with a discussion involving the client and, when authorized, designated family members or representatives.
The consultation may address:
The nurse navigator uses this information to identify organizational needs and recommend appropriate next steps within the navigator’s scope of practice.
Medical diagnoses and treatment decisions remain the responsibility of physicians and other authorized healthcare professionals.
Clients may receive instructions from multiple physician offices, hospitals, rehabilitation providers, pharmacies and other organizations.
A nurse navigator may help organize:
Organizing these materials does not replace the official medical record maintained by the client’s healthcare providers.
A nurse navigator can help the client prepare for an appointment by creating a list of concerns and questions the client wants to discuss.
When authorized and included in the service arrangement, assistance may include:
The physician or other treating professional remains responsible for explaining diagnoses, treatment options, risks and medical recommendations.
Returning home after hospitalization or rehabilitation can involve new medications, follow-up appointments, mobility restrictions, equipment and changes in everyday assistance.
A nurse navigator may help the client and family:
Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities remain responsible for their discharge-planning obligations. Horizon’s navigator supplements those services and does not replace the facility’s discharge planner or clinical team.
Medication reconciliation is a formal clinical process involving the comparison of medication lists during transitions in care. It may require communication with prescribers or pharmacists to clarify discrepancies.
When authorized and within the assigned nurse’s scope, nurse navigator assistance may include:
The nurse navigator does not independently prescribe medication, discontinue a medication or change a dosage. Only an authorized prescriber can make treatment decisions.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provides additional information about medication reconciliation during transitions in care.
A nurse navigator may help identify the types of everyday assistance that could be included in a private-duty care arrangement.
Depending on the client’s assessment and plan of care, Horizon’s private-duty home care services may include:
The nurse navigator can help communicate relevant care instructions to the authorized home-care team while respecting the client’s privacy and preferences.
Before a planned procedure, a nurse navigator may help organize:
The surgeon and medical team remain responsible for determining medical readiness and providing preoperative and postoperative instructions.
If a healthcare professional orders medical equipment or supplies, the nurse navigator may help communicate with the client, family, provider and appropriate supplier.
Assistance may involve:
The prescribing professional and equipment supplier remain responsible for selecting, delivering, installing, adjusting and explaining the safe use of medical equipment.
Families may need information about physicians, therapists, pharmacies, home health agencies, hospice providers, senior living communities, attorneys or other independent professionals.
A nurse navigator may help identify available options based on:
Clients and families retain the right to choose their providers. Horizon Care Services does not guarantee the availability, qualifications, quality, pricing or outcomes of an independent professional or organization.
Families can also compare Medicare-certified providers through the federal government’s Medicare Care Compare website.
When the client has provided appropriate authorization, a nurse navigator may communicate with designated relatives or representatives.
Updates may include:
Privacy laws, client preferences, legal authority and facility policies determine what information may be shared.
Family relationship alone does not automatically authorize access to private healthcare information.
When permitted by the facility and authorized by the client, a nurse navigator may attend meetings, accompany the client or help communicate approved questions and concerns.
The navigator does not:
Facility concerns involving resident rights, abuse, neglect or regulatory compliance should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Nurse navigator services do not replace medical treatment or emergency care.
Unless an appropriately licensed professional has been assigned and the service is specifically authorized, the program does not include:
Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Urgent symptoms and changes in condition should be reported to the appropriate healthcare professional according to the client’s medical instructions.
Nurse navigation should support the client’s voice—not replace it.
Whenever possible, the client remains involved in:
Communication with physicians, facilities, insurers and family members requires appropriate authorization. Legal representatives must provide documentation of their authority when required.
Payment options depend on the specific service arrangement and may include private payment, long-term care insurance or another qualifying benefit.
Coverage is not guaranteed. Clients should confirm benefits directly with their insurance carrier or plan administrator before relying on reimbursement.
Horizon Care Services does not represent that every nurse navigator service is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
Horizon Care Services assists clients in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, including North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Wellington, Stuart, Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce.
Availability depends on the client’s location, assessment, requested services, appropriate clinical authorization and staff availability.
No. A nurse navigator supports communication, organization and coordination within the nurse’s authorized scope. Physicians and other authorized prescribers remain responsible for medical diagnoses and treatment decisions.
No. A nurse navigator cannot independently prescribe, discontinue or change the dosage of a medication. Questions or discrepancies must be directed to an authorized prescriber or pharmacist.
Appointment accompaniment may be available when authorized, included in the service arrangement and permitted by the healthcare provider or facility.
Yes, when the client or legal representative has provided appropriate authorization. The client determines who may receive private information unless another person has documented legal authority.
The navigator may help identify options and organize publicly available information, but the client or authorized representative makes the final selection. Horizon cannot guarantee an independent provider’s performance or outcome.
The navigator can help coordinate an assessment and appropriate home-care schedule based on the client’s needs and caregiver availability.
No. Nurse navigator services do not replace 911, an emergency department or the client’s treating medical professionals.
If healthcare appointments, transitions, medication information and home-care arrangements have become difficult to manage, Horizon Care Services can help you explore an appropriate nurse navigator arrangement.
Call 561-776-7757 (toll-free 877-227-3890) or schedule a consultation to discuss nurse navigator services for yourself or someone you love.
This page provides general information and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Always consult the appropriate licensed professional regarding diagnoses, treatments, medications, legal authority, insurance coverage and changes in condition.
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Kindly take a moment to complete the form and a member of our team will reach out to you as soon as possible.
If you're currently experiencing an emergency situation, it would be best to call 911.
