In 2017, Laura noticed a problem: oncology patients in the hospital were receiving the most advanced care, but then when they went home, life got in the way. Cancer treatment is complicated and time-consuming. Patients were missing necessary appointments, which often led to hospital readmission. Laura decided to do something about it.
Starting from scratch, she piloted the idea of an inpatient nurse navigator—someone who could support patients emotionally and logistically as they transitioned from the hospital to outpatient clinics, helping them maintain a sense of normalcy and control amid a demanding treatment schedule. Laura created and defined this role and then advocated to make it a permanent part of oncology care at UCLA Health. This has resulted in a more advanced and effective system in which patients receive prescribed care in a timely sequence and prevent avoidable hospitalizations.
The importance of her work is illustrated by the story of a recent patient with leukemia. This patient lives an hour and a half away from her clinic site—doable for some of her appointments, but not for the labs and transfusions she needs two to three times a week. Laura found an oncologist close to the patient’s home, and even though this physician doesn’t typically treat leukemia, with Laura’s collaboration, he agreed to accommodate this patient in his office, making it much more convenient for the patient to get her weekly labs and transfusions. Practicing in this creative and innovative way, Laura has made cancer care more effective and more patient-centered.