Team Composition & Traits
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This page describes the composition, values, skills, and challenges of the Patient Navigation Team supporting individuals with Long COVID.
Team Composition
The Patient Navigation Team should be structured as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team that is divided into medical and non-medical functions to support holistic, patient-centered care.
Primary Navigator
- Main point of contact for the patient
- Ensures continuity and follow‑through across services
Intake Coordinator
- Screens patients for eligibility (e.g., geography, needs)
- Assigns patients to appropriate navigators
Support Staff
- Manage paperwork and documentation
- Track treatments and progress
- Coordinate appointments across services
Medical Team Members
- Primary Care Physicians
- Specialists
- Nurses (RNs, NPs)
- Physiotherapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
Non‑Medical Team Members
- Social Workers
- Mental Health Professionals
- Peer Support Workers
- Administrative Staff
Required Training
Preferred Background
- Clinical experience with chronic or complex conditions like Long COVID
- Experience in patient navigation, advocacy, or care coordination
- Training in holistic and systemic approaches
Essential Skills
- Understanding of Long COVID symptoms and trajectory
- System knowledge (healthcare services, disability supports, workplace accommodations)
- Strong communication, transparency, and privacy/confidentiality practices
- Project management and task organization skills (especially important for OTs)
Core Team Traits
- Compassion and belief in patient experiences of Long COVID
- Readiness to provide sustained, flexible support
- Professional transparency — patients understand each team member’s role and credentials
- Inclusion of peer support and lived‑experience roles
- Collaboration across medical and non‑medical professionals
- Collective problem‑solving rather than siloed work
Challenges & Considerations
- Addressing stigma and dismissal of Long COVID experiences
- Ensuring long‑term program sustainability
- Balancing human connection within virtual care models