Impact of a Patient Navigator Program on Access to Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a patient navigator program on surgical completion rates and visual outcomes among ophthalmology patients. Setting: Tertiary academic eye institute. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Patients recommended ophthalmic surgery who were referred to a patient navigator program to address barriers to surgical care in 2023 were included. The patient navigator program provided individualized logistical, financial, and social support to facilitate surgical completion, including transportation coordination and access to financial assistance. The primary outcome was surgical completion rate. A secondary outcome was change in visual acuity and time from program referral to surgery. Results: In total, 82 eyes of 64 patients were referred to our patient navigator program for surgical coordination. In all, 64 of 82 eyes (78%) referred for surgery successfully underwent the recommended operation. Resolution rates were highest for patient referred for transportation needs (28 of 31, 90%) or a surgical companion (25 of 30, 83%), with more modest success for cases involving lack of insurance (8 of 15, 53%) ( Conclusion: A patient navigator program demonstrates potential to facilitate access to outpatient ophthalmic surgery for patients who face barriers to care. These preliminary findings support further investigation of patient navigation in ophthalmology as a strategy to enhance equitable access to outpatient surgical treatment.