Following a car accident she was involved in, Maria (not her real name) was referred to the Grand County Rural Health Network by Middle Park Health’s Kremmling Clinic for financial assistance to obtain prescription medications due to severe injuries, including a blood clot in her leg. Maria did not have any insurance or income, as she was no longer able to work because of her injuries. After the Network provided direct financial assistance for her prescriptions, Maria was then referred internally to our Nurse Patient Navigator for support in finding a longer-term solution.
Our Navigator began working with Maria and helped her apply for a patient assistance program to receive the needed medications free of charge. Maria was successfully accepted onto this program and has been receiving her medications in the mail ever since. Her Navigator worked closely with Maria as a health advocate, helping her navigate her health issues due to language and cultural barriers.
As Maria’s trust in her Navigator grew, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer the year prior. She had not received any treatment because of her inability to obtain insurance and a lack of understanding of her diagnosis. Her Navigator collaborated with Denver Health and was able to advocate for Maria to be accepted into the Denver Health Financial Assistance Program in order to access affordable cancer treatment. Her Navigator coordinated transportation to Maria’s appointments both within and outside the county, and helped her apply for additional financial assistance through our community partner, Mountain Family Center. Maria soon began chemotherapy, and shared that without her Navigator’s support and advocacy, she didn’t believe she’d have been able to access the care she needed.
