Development of a professional oncology navigation training and credentialing program: ACS Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LION).

person Bonny Morris American Cancer Society, Charlotte, NC info_outline Bonny Morris, Arif Kamal, Elizabeth Franklin, Elizabeth Calhoun, Jennifer Balistreri, Shanthi Sivendran

Authors person Bonny Morris American Cancer Society, Charlotte, NC info_outline Bonny Morris, Arif Kamal, Elizabeth Franklin, Elizabeth Calhoun, Jennifer Balistreri, Shanthi Sivendran Organizations American Cancer Society, Charlotte, NC, Sanofi, Washington, DC, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, American Cancer Society, Milwaukee, WI, American Cancer Society, Lancaster, PA Abstract Disclosures Research Funding No funding sources reported Background: Navigation by trained professionals is a key component to improving cancer outcomes in the US, helping to ensure every cancer patient has access to timely, quality, and culturally competent care. Due to limited standardized training and lack of sustainable funding for navigation, patients are not receiving the comprehensive care they deserve. The new Center for Medicare (CMS) 2024 physician fee schedule pathway for reimbursement of non-clinical patient navigation (PN) offers a pathway to create sustainable oncology navigation. Methods: The American Cancer Society developed the Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LION) training and credentialing program with the goal of increasing access to high quality, standardized navigation training in compliance with Medicare requirements and in alignment with the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice. The program includes 10 learning modules and associated quizzes and a final summative assessment that is remotely live-proctored to demonstrate learning comprehension. This mixed methods analysis includes program descriptive data and paired t-tests of pre- and post-course comprehension and qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses. Results: The ACS LION program was piloted among 11 organizations nationally, including both academic health systems and community-based organizations. Of the 79 participants, 23% were Black and 14% were Hispanic. 18% of participants had less than one year of experience and 29% had more than 5 years of experience in navigation. 28% held clinical job titles. 51% had organization-specific in-service training and only 11% had taken an external standardized training program. Compared with pre-course scores, the program was significantly associated with higher post-course self-reported comprehension of 9 CMS required PN competencies (p<0.001; p=0.08 for professionalism and ethical conduct). Qualitative analysis revealed 4 themes: learner experience, practicality, comprehensiveness, and role delineation. Post-program ratings averaged 4.5 out of 5.0, including overall learning experience, meeting a need, would recommend to others, and enhanced their professional experience. Conclusions: Pilot participants from diverse racial, ethnic, and work experience backgrounds found ACS LION to be comprehensive, engaging, and provided either critical foundational knowledge for less experienced navigators or enhanced their existing knowledge for experienced navigators, providing practical tools and resources. Pilot results informed the course that was launched nationally on Jan 1, 2024. Webinars, learning collaboratives, refresher courses, and re-credentialing will continue to be developed and offered as part of ACS LION and ACS commitment to advancing high quality professional navigation.