Table 2:

Identified gaps in patient navigation programs and services

Domain	Specific gaps and unmet needs
Awareness	Patients, physicians and staff members are unaware of programs and services, including those Offered in their zone, through Alberta Health Services Offered outside of their zone, through Alberta Health Services By organizations outside of Alberta Health Services
	Owing to lack of patient awareness of programs, programs allowing for self-referral often have a high no-show rate
	Information on programs and services is difficult to find and predominantly transmitted through word of mouth
	Patients may be aware of programs but do not know how to access them
Resources	Many current patient navigation programs are at or over capacity
Resources	Resources and services are lacking for the following groups: Children with complex needs who are transitioning to adult care Adults (nonsenior population) Adults with mental health and developmental needs Patients being discharged from hospital or other acute care facilities Those not meeting eligibility criteria of the programs (e.g., young adults with cancer that is not treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
Geography	Lack of transportation options within cities and from rural residences to programs located at urban sites; it is cost prohibitive for patients to pay out of pocket to travel from rural residences to larger centres
	Rural areas have fewer available services
	Patients and care providers from rural areas are unaware of programs and services that they can access at urban centres
Integration	Lack of communication and integration among programs within Alberta Health Services
	Lack of cohesive client care and communication across different government ministries
	Inability to share and access patient information across different programs