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State-of-the-art technology and a shiny new facility are meaningless without highly qualified, experienced people to direct and deliver your care. As one physician put it,
Physicians
Our Medical and Radiation Oncology physicians have a longstanding history of high quality patient care. Each has achieved Board Certification and years of experience in their cancer treatment specialty.
Patient Care Staff
Our patient care professionals do more than deliver radiation or chemotherapy; schedule your appointments, draw blood samples, and so on. Their compassionate, caring interaction with patients and family members is based on an understanding and appreciation of each individual's struggle with the implications of their experience with cancer. These highly skilled individuals have come to know and treasure the uniquely close relationships that develop between themselves and those they serve.
Natalie Bucher, RD is a trained counselor who is available to help address and manage particular nutritional and dietary requirements of patients diagnosed with cancer. Dietary counseling is available by appointment. Natalie can be contacted at natalie.bucher@gfclinic.com
Nursing Staff
Our nursing staff members hold professional certifications in oncology nursing, which makes them nursing specialists in administering chemotherapy. One of our nurses holds specialized certifications in pediatric oncology and administration of chemotherapies and biotherapies to pediatric patients. These credentials are maintained through attendance at numerous continuing education courses and ongoing practice in oncology.
Oncology nurses closely monitor patients’ response to chemotherapy and serve as a resource to oncologists on a daily basis. They are skilled in dosage calculations and administering intravenous drugs; they also serve as educators in teaching patients and families about the effects of chemotherapy and what to expect during treatment.
Skilled nursing staff who have specialized in working with patients with cancer help support oncologists in their daily office practice. For questions about oncology nursing, contact Leslie Boor, RN, OCN, MSN at leslie.boor@gflclinic.com
Survivorship Program
When patients complete their cancer treatment and resume their previous activities of life, it is not unusual for them to experience residual emotional and physical effects. Clinic Cancer Care sees the need to support patients after their active treatment is completed and to provide this help it has developed a Survivorship Program. Patients are invited to participate in this program at the time of their one-year follow up with their oncologist. Prior to this visit they are contacted by a registered nurse, the Survivorship Program coordinator, who individually discusses with them their physical and emotional concerns. Based on each patient's individual needs, support services such as social worker, dietitian, physical therapist, or business office representative will be available at the time of their oncologist visit to assist the patient with any special needs or questions.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology services are provided at Clinic Cancer Care by a team of professionals who focus on using radiation in the medical environment to treat cancers.
The medical physicist works directly with the radiation oncologist in developing a plan of care using external radiation or internally implanted radioactive sources. Using the principles of physics, the most precise treatment plan is developed that will specifically target the cancer tissue and spare healthy tissue in the surrounding areas.
The medical dosimetrist works under the supervision of the medical physicist to determine the most effective angle the radiation beam should be applied, along with the strength and dosage of the radiation along its pathway. Technologies today allow the dosage to be adjusted as it travels through the body, allowing for healthy tissue to be spared as the cancer tissue is targeted.
The radiation therapist team applies the treatment plan and works directly with the patient in positioning them for treatment and carrying out the application of the radiation to the diseased tissue through the use of the various technologies available. The radiation therapist is the expert in treatment delivery, along with fabrication of molds and immobilization devices used in the delivery of radiation therapy.
For questions about radiation oncology treatment at Clinic Cancer Care, contact Amanda Copenhaver at 268-3962.
Genetic Counseling
Clinic Cancer Care provides genetic counseling services through its partners at Shodair Children’s Hospital. Genetic counseling provides individuals and families with information about actual or potential inherited defects and/or conditions in the individual, his or her children, or other relatives. The staff at Shodair’s Department of Medical Genetics is professionally trained to analyze the medical history of the family, perform a physical examination if needed, and provide interpretation of diagnostic test results. They explain details of the specific conditions and discuss options available to the individual or family.
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