NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER AND THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY COLLABORATE ON PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST ONCOLOGY PATIENTS
April 24, 2009
Contact: Shelley Lotenberg
Director of Public Affairs
Shelley@numc.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NASSAU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER AND THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY COLLABORATE ON PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST ONCOLOGY PATIENTS
East Meadow, NY…. Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC), announces that since the inception of the joint program with the American Cancer Society in January of 2009, 60 patients obtaining health care services in NUMC’s oncology division had the opportunity to benefit from the services of the Patient Navigation Program at the Nassau University Medical Center. The program is available in NUMC’s medical oncology division (S building), where patients are seen in the clinical setting.
“The program has trained volunteers (who are also cancer survivors) in both the medical oncology and radiation oncology clinics. Drs. Hesham Taha and Mitchell Karten and Helen Lavas of NUMC were instrumental in the implementation process and the success of the program that helps to eliminate barriers to cancer care for the medically underserved. The patient navigators meet with patients and/or family members to address any needs, discuss all available community resources and initiate the process of setting them up with the resources,” said Gianelli. “The services are available to all oncology patients, not just medical and radiation oncology. There is also a relationship and referral process with the pediatric department and the breast center.”
Steven J. Walerstein, MD, senior vice president for medical affairs and medical director at NUMC added: “The role of the patient navigator is to listen, list and address the patient’s and caregiver’s non-medical needs such as transportation and financial assistance, among others. They work with the patients and their caregivers to identify and link them to available resources from the hospital, the local community and the American Cancer Society.”
The following further describes the scope of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigation Program:
Assists with practical problem solving related to concrete needs such as free wigs and transportation.
Facilitates a link to hospital, American Cancer Society resources, and local community resources for cancer patients, their caregivers and families
Encourages cancer survivors and their caregivers to become advocates in their care and their
participation in available support groups, when appropriate.
Educates patients and caregivers about the availability of the American Cancer Society’s free
clinical trials matching service and treatment decision-making tools.
Provides cancer information to patients and their caregivers including literature on diagnosis, treatment, prevention, end of life care and available services.
Gabrielle Andrea, RN, director of patient and family services for the American Cancer Society said: “The American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program provides guidance for cancer patients, their families and caregivers to help them through the cancer treatment experience, with a focus on identifying and eliminating barriers to cancer care for the medically underserved. Patient Navigators connect patients, their families and caregivers at NUMC with the most appropriate programs and services to ease the cancer burden. They provide free help throughout the disease continuum – from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, into survivorship.”
For more information about the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator, please call 1-800-ACS-2345 or NUMC’s oncology division 516-572-8891.