Learning he had cancer of the vocal cords was a real blow for Gary Simmons, manager of the J.C. Penney store in Aiken, S.C. But thanks to a new program at MCGHealth Cancer Center, Simmons was able to see his entire treatment team in one day, under one roof.
Convenient, comprehensive care MCGHealth Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary cancer program was originally developed for patients with cancers of the head and neck, including cancers of the nose and throat, as a better alternative to the traditional model of care. “In the past, patients had to schedule individual appointments with various physicians, resulting in missed work, unnecessary delays and communication problems,” says David Terris, MD, chairman of MCGHealth’s Department of Otolaryngology, who treated Simmons. Instead, Simmons was evaluated by members of a Head and Neck Tumor Board that included a surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and pathologist, as well as speech and physical therapists. After Simmons’ evaluations, the physicians conferred and agreed on a comprehensive plan of care. They then met with Simmons to present their recommendations. “This is multidisciplinary care at its finest,” says Dr. Terris. Simmons agrees. “Meeting with the Tumor Board gave me the opportunity to ask questions and get a general understanding of the recommended treatment from all of the physicians involved. From then on, my care was coordinated like clockwork,” says Simmons. Many hospitals operate treatment teams that discuss individual patients, but few include and examine patients at these meetings. The result? Patient anxiety is reduced, time lags are eliminated and patients and their family members gain a clearer understanding of what lies ahead. These advantages really make a difference in each patient’s experience at MCGHealth. Just ask Simmons. “If you need cancer care, MCGHealth is the place to be,” he says.
One-stop breast-cancer care
The multidisciplinary cancer program at MCGHealth Cancer Center has been expanded to cover all major cancer types, including breast cancer. Patients are evaluated by a surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist in a single day, and reconstructive surgeons, dietitians, lymphedema management specialists and other professionals are available as needed. “We also have a psychiatrist who performs screenings to determine what kind of support systems patients need and to see if a medical social worker is needed,” says Thomas Samuel, MD, a medical oncologist with MCGHealth Cancer Center. “My care at MCGHealth was just great,” says breast cancer patient Richardeen Martin. “The physicians worked together to diagnose and treat my cancer from day one, and they were responsive to my every need.” Raising the bar on Patient Family Centered Care MCGHealth Cancer Center has also opened a dedicated breast cancer clinic near its newly remodeled mammography unit. “This will generally allow physicians to provide multidisciplinary care to patients on the same day breast abnormalities are discovered,” says Dr. Samuel. “A breast health coordinator will answer patients’ questions and help them navigate the system.”
