Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine

Jump directly to a section:

Patient Navigation Program

Katherine Howerter

Hi, my name is Katherine Howerter. I can be reached at 217-545-6122.

I am a licensed social worker for your American Cancer Society and Simmons Cancer Institute’s Patient Navigation Program. Navigating the health care system can be a significant barrier for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. In addition, the emotional, physical, and financial needs can be overwhelming, and many require assistance to access necessary services, support and resources.

The role of a patient navigator is to help remove the cultural, financial, social, and medical barriers to quality health care. A patient navigator provides assistance such as: access to services and resources at Simmons Cancer Institute, help locating financial assistance programs for various treatment related needs, answers to insurance questions, transportation assistance to treatments, information about available support groups and programs, help getting free wigs, hats and temporary prostheses and more.

For cancer information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, also visit the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.

A brief video from our patient navigator