Service Line Update: Premier Health Oncology Institute News
By Lori Scalise, vice president of service integration – women's and cancer services
As we continue our commitment to place patients at the center of everything we do, we want to share with the provider community some updates on the progress of key initiatives:
- Our radiation oncology services are enhancing radiation oncology treatment by installing new tumor-fighting Trubeam linear accelerator technology at our various radiation oncology locations. This new radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatment system is capable of fast and precise image guided therapy that can reduce side effects and treatment time for patients. The new technology starts at Atrium Medical Center this month, and at Upper Valley Medical Center this coming fall.
- The Gala of Hope Foundation has awarded a $353,200 grant to Premier Health’s foundation in support of expanding integrative therapies and services for cancer patients at Atrium Medical Center, Miami Valley Hospital South, Miami Valley Hospital North, and Upper Valley Medical Center. Each of these locations will have oncology exercise and massage therapies tailored specifically for cancer patients to enhance their healing and quality of life. Funds will also be used to help replace Premier Health’s mobile mammography coach that serves more than 3,000 women in the region.
- As we grow our specialty services within the cancer service line, Premier Health will be adding three new oncology nurse navigators to our team of nine across the system to enhance communication, coordination, and a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The purpose of communicating this to our providers is:
- To ensure you are aware of these resources intended to help patients navigate the complex health care landscape as they battle cancer
- To request that you recommend your patients meet with the appropriate oncology nurse navigator based on their disease type. We will be updating providers with more information as we add new navigators. Learn more about our navigators.
- A digital referral guide for cancer services is being developed to assist referring providers with easy access to our cancer specialists. The guide will include sites of services, screening guidelines, and a physician list with profiles. It will launch in fourth quarter 2019.
- A list of open and active clinical trials will soon be posted to the physician portal by tumor site.
- MD Anderson concordance studies and results for Premier Health continue to show quality improvement year over year, and Premier Health's MD Anderson-certified physicians continue to utilize peer-to-peer consults for their complex cancer patients. If you have a patient to recommend for a consult or second opinion, please call the Premier Health cancer hotline at (844) 316-HOPE (4673)(844) 608-316-HOPE (4673), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to connect with a Premier Health cancer specialist. Find more information about Premier Health cancer care services.
Innovations in Care: Lung Cancer
Recent treatment guidelines and recommendations for the care of patients with lung cancer
Save the Date!
Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019
Premier Health Center
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Keynote presentation by George Simon, MD, FACP, FCCP, from MD Anderson Cancer Center
Target audience: Primary Care physicians; physician specialists, including surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, medical residents, fellows, medical students; registered nurses; and advanced practice providers
More information and registration to come
Back to the June 2019 issue of Premier Pulse
