DOTmed: Tell us about this purchase. Upstate University Hospital nurse Debra Malay takes on many roles, but that of nurse advocate at Upstate's Breast Imaging Center is closest to her heart.
Malay created the RN Advocacy Program at the imaging center more than two years ago to offer patients a more "personal touch" in a clinical setting. The program has since evolved into a patient- and family-centered advocacy program that offers a full spectrum of services to the center's patients. The Breast Imaging Center is located at 550 Harrison Center in Syracuse, New York.
Malay based the program on the role of a "navigator," health care professionals who guide patients through their health care experiences, sometimes over a lifetime.
DOTmed: Any final thoughts? Malay adds that she has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients for the role she provides. "I truly believe that the nursing advocate role reflects the best that nurses have to offer—our presence and our hearts. I believe it is truly an honor to bring the art of nursing to each of my patients."
