How Working With a Spine Navigator Can Get You Back to Living
Spine Nurse Navigator Rachel Martin discusses the role of a spine navigator and how working with one can help you eliminate back pain more quickly.
Featuring:
Rachel Martin, BSN, RN-ONC
Rachel Martin, BSN graduated from Lake-Sumter State College in 2012 with an Associates of Science degree in Nursing. She has specialized working with surgical patients, primarily spine and orthopedic, for 7 years. Transcription:
Adam Ragusea (Host): People with back problems have enough problems as it is and navigating the healthcare system should not be one of them. That is the idea behind a relatively new profession, a Spine Navigator. Who is a Spine Navigator? Let’s ask one. Nurse Rachel Martin at Osceola Regional Medical Center.
This is Helmet of Health the podcast from HCA-Osceola. I’m Adam Ragusea and nurse Martin, what exactly is a Spine Navigator?
Rachel Martin, BSN, RN-ONC (Guest): A Spine Navigator’s role is a nurse who is basically in place to help move patients across the system who are having back issues. So, essentially, we try to get patients from point A to point B as seamlessly as possible because the medical system can be very difficult for our patients to navigate on their own.
Host: Well, what kind of back issues are we talking about here?
Rachel: Typically, we have patients who call in looking for assistance, they have back pain, they have leg pain, they may experience numbness and tingling in their legs or feet. We also get patients who have issues with their neck, pain issues with their neck, pain that runs down the arms, numbness, tingling things like that.
Host: So, what kind of problems might somebody run into trying to get treatment for those kinds of pretty common issues without the assistance of a navigator such as yourself?
Rachel: So, there are many different types of treatment options depending upon what’s going on with the back or the neck. It can be very confusing for a patient. Some patients require surgery. Some patients require physical therapy. And oftentimes, they don’t know where to start. So, we as navigators, take an intake of those particular symptoms, look into what treatments or evaluations the patient has already undergone and help them determine the next best step for them.
Host: So, if I’ve got back problems, who should I come to first, my doctor or a spine navigator like you?
Rachel: Well if you are already established with a primary care physician; you of course can always see your primary care physician and they can even refer you to us to further your services so, if they determine that you need physical therapy; we can get you in touch with the correct entity for that or if they would like for you to see a surgeon; we can get you in touch and get you an appointment quickly for that. But if you don’t have a primary care physician, you are not established with; then you can always call the Spine Navigator and we can see what the next step is going to be and the process for you.
Host: Well, here’s a tricky question, but an important one; the services that you are providing as a Spine Navigator; will people’s insurance companies pay for that?
Rachel: The services that we provide are – it’s essentially – think of it as a concierge service. If you call us and you’re looking for information to get in touch and get established with somebody; we don’t charge anything for these services. So, you don’t have to worry about insurance reimbursement.
Host: All right, thanks nurse Martin. That’s Rachel Martin, a Spine Navigator at Osceola Regional Medical Center. Thanks for listening to Helmet of Health, the podcast from HCA-Osceola. Go to www.osceolaregional.com to get connected with nurse Martin or another provider. If you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels; that would stiffen our spines. And be sure to check back soon for the next podcast.
Adam Ragusea (Host): People with back problems have enough problems as it is and navigating the healthcare system should not be one of them. That is the idea behind a relatively new profession, a Spine Navigator. Who is a Spine Navigator? Let’s ask one. Nurse Rachel Martin at Osceola Regional Medical Center.
This is Helmet of Health the podcast from HCA-Osceola. I’m Adam Ragusea and nurse Martin, what exactly is a Spine Navigator?
Rachel Martin, BSN, RN-ONC (Guest): A Spine Navigator’s role is a nurse who is basically in place to help move patients across the system who are having back issues. So, essentially, we try to get patients from point A to point B as seamlessly as possible because the medical system can be very difficult for our patients to navigate on their own.
Host: Well, what kind of back issues are we talking about here?
Rachel: Typically, we have patients who call in looking for assistance, they have back pain, they have leg pain, they may experience numbness and tingling in their legs or feet. We also get patients who have issues with their neck, pain issues with their neck, pain that runs down the arms, numbness, tingling things like that.
Host: So, what kind of problems might somebody run into trying to get treatment for those kinds of pretty common issues without the assistance of a navigator such as yourself?
Rachel: So, there are many different types of treatment options depending upon what’s going on with the back or the neck. It can be very confusing for a patient. Some patients require surgery. Some patients require physical therapy. And oftentimes, they don’t know where to start. So, we as navigators, take an intake of those particular symptoms, look into what treatments or evaluations the patient has already undergone and help them determine the next best step for them.
Host: So, if I’ve got back problems, who should I come to first, my doctor or a spine navigator like you?
Rachel: Well if you are already established with a primary care physician; you of course can always see your primary care physician and they can even refer you to us to further your services so, if they determine that you need physical therapy; we can get you in touch with the correct entity for that or if they would like for you to see a surgeon; we can get you in touch and get you an appointment quickly for that. But if you don’t have a primary care physician, you are not established with; then you can always call the Spine Navigator and we can see what the next step is going to be and the process for you.
Host: Well, here’s a tricky question, but an important one; the services that you are providing as a Spine Navigator; will people’s insurance companies pay for that?
Rachel: The services that we provide are – it’s essentially – think of it as a concierge service. If you call us and you’re looking for information to get in touch and get established with somebody; we don’t charge anything for these services. So, you don’t have to worry about insurance reimbursement.
Host: All right, thanks nurse Martin. That’s Rachel Martin, a Spine Navigator at Osceola Regional Medical Center. Thanks for listening to Helmet of Health, the podcast from HCA-Osceola. Go to www.osceolaregional.com to get connected with nurse Martin or another provider. If you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels; that would stiffen our spines. And be sure to check back soon for the next podcast.