Community Partnerships in Oncology
In the past decade cancer care has taken on new meaning with a focus on everything from prevention and screening through survivorship or end-of-life care. With a community as rich in resources as Michiana, SJHS takes a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer care by partnering with regional experts to care for its patients.
Steps:
Prevention – SJHS partners with the Foundation of SJHS, Community Outreach Services, Secret Sisters Society, Kelly Cares Foundation, American Cancer Society, Ounce of Prevention, RiverBend Cancer Services and national governing bodies to help raise awareness about cancer prevention. The goal is for everyone to make healthier choices and be compliant with cancer screening guidelines given by their primary care physician.
Screening – All patients of SJHS seen by a primary care physician should be scheduled for routine cancer screenings outlined by national governing bodies. Guidelines are based on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, risk and environment.
SJHS offers genetic screening, testing and counseling to help identify someone's predetermined risk of having cancer during their lifetime. Genetic results may change the age range, frequency of screening or the treatment course if/when diagnosed.
Diagnosis – SJHS uses the latest technologies to diagnose cancer. We have specially trained physicians to interpret the results and coordinate a treatment plan based on pathology of tumor diagnosis.
We partner with The Medical Foundation for blood and pathology testing. We partner with X-Ray Consultants, Inc. for medical imaging services (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, MBI, tomosynthesis, stereotactic biopsy, colorectal exam, etc.).
Treatment of cancer happens in many different ways.
Surgery – SJHS Oncology uses a combination of hospital-employed and private-practice surgeons including Allied Physicians, General Vascular Surgery, the Centre PC, Michiana Hematology Oncology, North Central Neurosurgery of South Bend, South Bend Clinic and Marshall Couny Surgery Associates.
Medical Oncology – SJHS partners with Michiana Hematology Oncology to provide outpatient infusion services at both Mishawaka and Plymouth Medical Centers. (Chemotherapy is the same as infusion.)
SJHS offers inpatient chemotherapy for patients who require a hospital admission.
Radiation Oncology – SJHS partners with Michiana Hematology Oncology to provide outpatient radiation therapy services at both Mishawaka and Plymouth Medical Centers.
Research – SJHS is part of the Northern Indiana Cancer Research Consortium that offers national clinic trials to cancer patients. The NICRC is comprised of SJHS, MHO, Mike and Josie Harper Cancer Research Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network, IU, Mayo Clinic, NRG Oncology and the University of Notre Dame.
Inpatient - At any point a patient may need to be admitted to the hospital for cancer-related care. SJHS has a dedicated 34-bed Oncology inpatient unit that has credentialed oncology nursing staff trained to recognize and manage symptoms related to the disease and treatment reactions.
Survivorship – SJHS partners with Michiana Hematology Oncology to create treatment summaries and survivorship outcomes for each patient. SJHS has a dedicated survivorship navigator who meets with each patient (free of charge) to guide him or her into community resources after his or her cancer treatment is finished.
SJHS partners with RiverBend Cancer Services to provide ongoing survivorship classes, educational events, exercise, wellness and psychosocial support.
SJHS partners with the YMCA to offer the Livestrong exercise program to patients after their treatments are finished.
End-of-Life Care
SJHS offers a dedicated oncology social work and pain and palliative care team to address psychosocial support, distress, pain management and/or end-of-life care.
SJHS partners with local hospice houses to transition someone to their care during end-of-life transition. Hospice is always a personal choice and hospice location selection is to be determined by patient and family.