The Patient-Centered Education & Research Institute (PCERI) is dedicated to improving the ability of patients to navigate the U.S. healthcare system. It does this by assuring that healthcare professionals who assist patients know procedures and resources and have the emotional intelligence needed to successfully navigate patients through an often confusing healthcare system. PCERI does this through education, research, and certification. We educate persons who desire to serve as patient navigators; gather, conduct, and report research on patient-centered care; and, nationally conduct certification testing of patient navigators.

PCERI has helped define the scope of practice, competencies, ethical standards, and emotional skills in line with the National Navigation Round Table of the American Cancer Society and has instituted the Certified Professional Patient Navigation (CPPN) designation.