DENVER - Getting health information and test results can sometimes be overwhelming. A patient navigator can really help out.

A patient navigator is someone like a nurse or social worker who helps patients find doctors and make appointments. The American Cancer Society has navigators across Colorado.

"A patient navigator is someone who helps patients decrease barriers to care," said Liz Whitley, the director of Community Voices at Denver Health. "So they can increase access to the patient by helping them apply for coverage, they can actually make appointments for patients, they can help provide transportation for patients. Sometimes, particularly with patients with chronic diseases need to apply for assistance programs and the navigators can help them fill out the paperwork."

Whitley says a doctor in Harlem came up with the idea after noticing his black female patients were coming to him with late-stage breast cancer. That wasn't necessarily happening with his other patients.

This year at the 9Health Fair, staff members will be calling people at certain sites as part of a partnership with Community Voices at Denver Health and the Colorado Prevention Center (CPC).

"9Health Fair will be calling people who have elevated numbers on their blood test, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and talking about what those numbers mean and what they might do next," said Lisa Jensen, the associate director of prevention for the CPC. "It's basically a way of helping people understand the results they get from a blood test and a lot of people go to 9Health Fair to get that blood test and they get the results in the mail and they don't understand what they mean."

"We promise that we will make at least three phone calls to try to find someone and have at least one conversation with individuals who have concerning findings," Whitley said. "For those individuals who would like a higher degree of participation, we are available to help guide you through the process, however long it is."

The CPC has been making follow-up calls for the last three years who took a cardiac risk assessment, something the CPC is once again offering this year.

"I might tell them, 'I think you need to go see a doctor,' or a might tell them, 'What do you think is the most important to you?' and a lot of people might say, 'I don't want to go see a doctor but I'll make some changes in my diet," Jensen said.

It is important to note patient navigators will not be calling people at all the sites. The patient navigators will not be making calls at sites where the CPC is offering its cardiac risk assessment. However, you might still be able to get a patient navigator. Whitley says you should ask your doctor or your hospital if a patient navigator is available.

To find a 9Health Fair location near you, go to www.9healthfair.org.

Dianna Hemphill, the communications manager for the American Cancer Society, tells 9NEWS the American Cancer Society has patient navigators at five Denver-area hospitals: University of Colorado Hospital, Exempla Lutheran, Exempla St. Joe's, Rose Medical Center and Boulder Community Hospital.

Hemphill says patient navigators can help fill out paperwork and help work out rides to and from treatments.