This episode continues our Day 1 Allies series, a campaign to support new residents as they join the clinical team. In this episode, we focus on a role that often works behind the scenes but has a huge impact on patient care: the Patient Care Navigator (PCN).

Host Cameron Wong, MD chats with Taylor Farrance, to explore how PCNs guide patients from admission through to discharge... and why this process is far more complex than it looks. Taylor describes discharge planning as something that evolves every day during a patient's stay, shaped by input from the entire allied health team. As Cameron puts it, PCNs are the masters of discharge planning, and essential allies for new residents.

In this episode, we unpack questions like:

• What does a Patient Care Navigator actually do?
• Why is discharge planning a process that starts early and not at the end of a hospital stay?
• How do PCNs center patient and family needs in the discharge plan?
• What should residents do if their hospital doesn't have a PCN?

Key takeaway: Communicate early and often. Whether you have a PCN or another discharge coordinator, building a strong line of communication is key to safe, effective care.

If you're starting a Royal College accredited residency, don't forget to join as a Resident Affiliate. It's free, and you can start claiming MOC credits right away. Click here to learn more.