Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), focuses on Patient Empowered Care® and treating the "whole person" in their ght with cancer. This includes Medical Oncology, Surgery, Inpatient Care, Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology, Infusion, Urgent Care, Pain Management, Rehab, Cardio Pulmonary, Mind Body Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition, and Pastoral Care. To improve our coordination and care of our patients, CTCA embarked on an endeavor to operationalize a comprehensive, continuous, gap-free assessment for the management of our patients' symptoms.
The Quality of Life Center includes response to and treatment of patient symptoms in the following categories:
- Symptoms as a result of the cancer
- Symptoms as a result of the treatment of the cancer
- Co-morbid conditions
The team at CTCA accommodates pre-scheduled appointments, same day appointments, and any patient who walks into the center.
We give you the care when you need it. Improving your quality of life.
At CTCA, every Stakeholder is a first responder!
At CTCA, each Stakeholder becomes a "Point of Service" fi rst responder assessing and responding to the patient's need directly. When the need is outside the scope of the First Responder, the provider assesses, triages, and provides hand-off to the Quality of Life Center.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern) implemented a survey tool, administered during the initial appointment and thereafter, that self-assesses patient symptoms. This survey captures a patient's perception of symptoms, and how those symptoms may be impacting their quality of life. It also provides valuable information for clinicians, and provides evidence of the value of intervention to more eff ectively meet the needs of patients.
The program was launched February of 2011, yielding the following results:
- Improving the lives of CTCA patients
- Designating best practices for assessment and management of symptoms
- Identifying opportunities for innovation that improve symptom management
- Differentiating CTCA from competitors
- Empowering every patient to contribute to their own symptom management through the provision of education and continuity of care via collaboration with their community care provider
For more information please contact:
Lynn Valz
Lean Operations/ Director
Lynn.Valz@ctca-hope.com
