UK Health Navigator Program

Would you like to improve your health but don’t know where to start? Let the UK Health Navigator Program help!

What is a health navigator?

A health navigator is a person trained to help you make changes in your health habits in a way that works best for you. View printable Health Navigator brochure (PDF, 454 Kb)

Navigators can provide information on:

• Weight loss
• Exercise opportunities
• Support groups
• Community groups and activities
• Diabetes control
• Other health questions you may have

The Health Navigator Program is a free service that helps guide you to resources in your community that can assist you with your personal health goals. The program is part of a research study for patients who have various health risk behaviors, with a primary focus on diabetes. The study will investigate if a health navigator can help improve a person’s health.

Where is the program available and am I eligible?

The program will initially be available to pre-diabetic or diabetic patients in participating clinics in Boyle, Jackson, Rockcastle, Montgomery, Estill and Madison counties. Ask your physician if he is a participant in the study or would like to join the program.

If you are a resident of any of these counties and are prediabetic or diabetic, a health navigator can help you find resources and information that can help.  

You are eligible if you: 

• Have diabetes and are age 21 or older.
• Are prediabetic.
• Are referred to the program by your physician.

Contact and signup information

• Those interested need to sign up before Nov. 1, 2009.
• After completing a health risk assessment in a physician’s office, you will be referred to the program by your primary physician.
• You will then be given a brochure explaining the Health Navigator Program with a contact number to call.   When you call the program, you will be asked for your name, the health condition you are calling about, and the best way to get in touch with you.
• After you have called and signed up for the program, you will be partnered with a health navigator. This health navigator will assist you with finding health resources and information related to your health needs.

For information, call UK Health Connection at 1-800-333-8874 or write to the following addresses:

Health Navigator Program
College of Health Sciences
Wethington Building, Room 207
900 S. Limestone
Lexington KY 40536-0200

Kentucky Diabetes Research Foundation
Geza Bruckner, PhD, or Renee King, program coordinator
CTW Bldg 207
900 S. Limestone
Lexington KY 40536-0200
859-323-1100 Ext 80567

Navigator Services

Diabetes support
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are not alone. In fact, millions of people in America have diabetes. If you have been recently diagnosed, you probably have many questions. If your loved one has diabetes, you may be wondering how you can help.

Health navigators can help you find the nearest diabetes support group so that you can talk to people who know about the challenges of diabetes. Your health navigator can also send you free, reliable health information by mail or e-mail.

Healthy living
With the Health Navigation Program, a health navigator is on your side every step of the way, helping you make the right choices.

Exercise: You can do it!
You might not be able to run a mile or even walk to the mailbox, but exercise – in any amount – is important to your health. Your health navigator will help you find ways to enjoy exercising and will give you the information and encouragement you need to succeed.

Healthy eating can taste good too!
Many of your favorite recipes can be altered to be lower in fat and can still taste great. Your health navigator can teach you simple steps you can take that will make healthy cooking easy.

If you eat out regularly, your navigator can help you get nutrition information on the restaurants you like to visit before you go. This will enable you to make smart decisions when eating out or at home.