Indigenous Health

Introduced in 2009, Eastern Health’s Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) Program is a bridge between Aboriginal communities and their culture and their respective health professionals. The APN Program is available to Aboriginal Long-Term Care residents and their families.

What does an Aboriginal Patient Navigator do?

Aboriginal Patient Navigators do a number of things to help their residents feel more at ease in the long-term care setting, they may:

• provide referral, advocacy and support to Aboriginal residents to help them access the most appropriate health care and community services;
• arrange for translation services in Innu-Aimun and Inuktitut if required, to ensure residents and families understand the care provided;
• escort patients to medical appointments; and
• make recommendations for, and assist with, accommodations, informed care planning and access to medical supplies.

For more information, please see:

• Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) Program at Eastern Health
• On an Even Keel – The Aboriginal Patient Navigator Program Sails into 10 Years
• Aboriginal Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador – Basic Fact Sheet (PDF)