Background: The Hoag Family Cancer Institute (HFCI) provides robust services including diagnosis-specific oncology nurse navigation (ONN), social workers, chaplains, support groups, dietitians, and other programmatic features for patients and families. Although the majority of Hoag patients are covered by insurance, immediate, critical monetary gaps remain when patients are diagnosed with cancer. The birth of the Financial Bridge Program began in the Brain Tumor Support Group. An accomplished musician in her eighties and a 24-year-old man shared a bond. It was a bond of like diagnosis—terminal prognosis, bravery, and identical fears. As the young man’s condition began to decline, she wanted to assist in some meaningful way. His family resided on the East Coast and lacked funds to travel west to provide end-of-life care. His friend, by circumstance, wanted to give anonymously, but the navigator felt her gift would be more impactful if given in person. Together, navigator and donor walked to the hospital room where he lay to deliver the check for his family’s journey. This was her last walk.
Objectives: Reduce financial burdens for patients with diagnosis of cancer. Allow cancer survivors to provide peer-to-peer impact.
Methods: Brain Tumor ONN met with HFCI leadership and the Hoag Foundation to identify where small patient donations were sent within the foundation (ie, cancer, neuroscience, or general fund, etc); how funds were utilized; and a mechanism to channel funds directly to individual patients. Because no mechanism was in place for individual patient assistance, the navigators, social workers, HFCI leadership, and the Hoag Foundation developed a proposal for a financial bridge program. This proposal was presented to the ONN team for review and input.
Results: A pilot program was initiated from July to December 2017 with a budget of $7500. This program allowed distribution of gift cards (gas and groceries) up to $300 per patient. Funds, collected through the Hoag Foundation, include monetary items such as small gift cards, memorial funds from grateful families wanting to assist those in need, and a recent generous $250,000 donation from a philanthropic organization. After receiving this large contribution, the Bridge program has an increased annual budget for fiscal year 2018. The navigator may distribute up to $500 per patient, without deep financial review. This amount may increase to a maximum of $1500 if a patient applies and demonstrates proof of greater financial need. To date, 76 patients have received funds through this program.
Conclusion: Hoag has found a way to develop a financial fund that directly benefits patients in financial crisis. The centerpiece of this fund is the relationship between navigators and patients. It is through these relationships that the fund was launched and continues to grow. The long-term relationships developed through nurse navigation are a source of identifying donors as well as recipients of the Financial Bridge Program. This process is often life changing for all participants involved. What started as an act of kindness grew into what is now the Hoag Family Cancer Institute Financial Bridge Program.
