LaMetupal

No one has ever taught us how to be sick. Without a warning crisis emerges as our medical diagnosis or that of our loved one, changes our lives. We are then faced with many tasks we have never been trained to do and with the Israeli healthcare system, which is considered to be amongst the best in the world, yet amongst the most complex and bureaucratic. To help in such difficult times, we have built a new profession of "Personal Patient Navigator" (PPN) and established “LaMetupal” (Hebrew for: “For the Patient”), as a non-profit organization, that addresses the needs of patients and their families during complex medical events. What Is a "Personal Patient Navigator" (PPN)? A "Personal Patient Navigator" (PPN) is an experienced and professional person who accompanies the patient during an oncological, rare or chronic illness, or during any other complex medical event. The PPN helps patients and their families make significant medical, economic and personal decisions, support them with government institution negotiations, and navigates the integration of all aspects of disease management. "LaMetupal" Goals • Lead a conscious change and improve the service and treatment that patients and their families are receiving. • Train PPNs in an orderly and professional method. • Promote the integration of PPN services in public healthcare, within the framework of the State Health Law. "LaMetupal" services and activities • Accompanying patients and their families during complex medical events by operating a network of PPNs in hospitals and the community throughout all stages of the disease. • Train PPNs by offering certified training and follow-on mentoring and internship programs. • Run research and observation programs at hospitals and HMOs, to prove the economic and therapeutic benefits of a PPN integrated as part of the Hospital department staff and the benefits that the PPN brings to patients and families in the community. • Integrate lessons learned from research