Accenture Grants $750,000 to Train New Patient Navigators in 35 Locations Across the US

New York., October 16, 2012 /3BL Media/ – Accenture and the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute (PNI) today announced that Accenture and the Accenture Foundations have awarded PNI $750,000 to help the organization roll out a Patient Navigator selection, skills-building and job readiness program in 35 locations across the United States. The grant builds on a 2011 donation of cash and in-kind support of $875,000, which supported PNI’s successful pilot program in Cleveland and helped fund the training of 120 patient navigators in the city.

The award, which consists of cash as well as time and skills of Accenture employees, reflects Accenture’s global corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed, which will equip 250,000 people around the  world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The grant will allow PNI to train 7,500 new patient navigators and expand its current patient navigation program to new markets across the United States over the next three years. Accenture employees will volunteer with PNI to mentor disadvantaged individuals as they become patient navigators.   “Supporting PNI helps exemplify Accenture’s commitment to building skills and improving the communities where we live and work,” said Jill Huntley, senior director of corporate citizenship at Accenture. “PNI is proving that it’s possible to create a positive and lasting impact by providing both job skills for the unemployed and health benefits for patients in need.”   "Significant medical advances have improved the general health and quality of life for many Americans. However, poor and uninsured Americans have not fully benefited from this progress as measured by higher mortality and lower survival,” said Harold P. Freeman, M.D., of the Patient Navigation Institute. “By teaming with Accenture, we are able to train more patient navigators who identify and eliminate barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment. Navigators work directly with patients and develop ways to improve their health care."   About Accenture Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with 257,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through itsSkills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 250,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012.  Its home page is www.accenture.com.   About Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute Patient navigation was founded by Harold P. Freeman, M.D. in 1990, when he initiated and developed the first Patient Navigation program in Harlem to reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly among poor and uninsured people. In 2007, as a direct result of a $2.5M grant received from the Amgen Foundation, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention established The Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute (HPFPNI) to support Patient Navigation training to individuals and those associated with organizations. The Institute opened its doors to address the growth in Patient Navigation programs, but also to offer standards and best practices that are customizable to meet each program's needs. For more information, please visit www.hpfreemanpni.org.   # # # Contacts:   Kate Sansone Accenture + 917 452 3784 kate.sansone@accenture.com   Jennifer Francis Accenture + 630 338 6426 jennifer.francis@accenture.com