CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 7, 2024Β βΒ President Joe Biden will address a joint session of Congress tonight, delivering his annual State of the Union address. For Atrium Health Levine Cancer nurse Kris Blackley, it will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join First Lady Jill Biden as her invited guest and be seated in the first ladyβs viewing section at the U.S. Capitol.
The White House has been a strong advocate for the Biden Cancer Moonshot, bringing people and organizations together to join forces in the fight to end cancer and improve the experiences of patients and family members affected by the disease. Last month, Jill Biden visited the Charlotte campus of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, which included highlighting Atrium Healthβs robust navigation program.
Blackley shared with the first lady about patient navigators at Levine Cancer, who identify barriers to care β such as transportation, childcare, housing, language and financial, among others. The navigators act as advocates to help secure the resources, support and services necessary to address barriers and facilitate compassionate access to timely and high-quality cancer care. The Biden Administration has worked to ensure Medicare and private health insurers can pay for navigation services to help patients.
Blackley is director of patient navigation at Levine Cancer and has been an oncology nurse for over 30 years. She has been with Atrium Health β now part of Advocate Health β since 2000 and was with Levine Cancer Institute since its inception in 2011. As part of her work, she has conducted research related to navigation that shows several improved outcomes, including decreased readmissions, increased treatment compliance and equity in care.
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