Treatment
Cancer Care Team
The RMH Hahn Cancer Center provides personal care to patients through our multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, therapists and other highly trained professionals. Our board-certified oncologists and oncology-certified nurses have the expertise to provide high-quality cancer care.
Comprehensive Cancer Care
The RMH Hahn Cancer Center meets the standards for a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program established by the Commission on Cancer (CoC). Approval by the CoC is granted only to those programs that provide the best in cancer prevention, early diagnosis, staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, surveillance for recurrent disease and support services.
Patient Care Services
The Cancer Center ensures that all patients have access to a full range of medical and support services. These services are available on-site at RMH:
Medical Oncology provides comprehensive care for cancer patients from adolescence through late adulthood. Our board-certified medical oncologists, Brian Robinson, MD, Christine Urbanski, MD, and James Loynes, MD, oversee patient staging, treatment, response to therapy and surveillance for recurrence.
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Hematology
The medical oncologists also specialize in treating patients with blood disorders and cancers of the blood-forming organs. Blood disorders, such as anemia, can be treated with growth factors. These drugs are natural substances that help the body produce more red blood cells and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
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The Infusion Center, located adjacent to the Medical Oncology clinic, provides a spacious, comfortable setting for infusion therapy. Patients receive the latest chemotherapy and biotherapy available. In addition, patients may receive blood products, antibiotics and fluid replacement, proteins to boost immune function, or agents to increase iron levels. Our team of oncology nurses is specialy trained in chemotherapy and biotherapy administration, in accordance with Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) guidelines.
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The Radiation Therapy department is equipped with the most up-to-date technology. The linear accelerator, a sophisticated tool of modern medicine, electronically produces radiation beams that last only a few minutes during the treatment. One of the newest technologies we offer is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). IMRT targets the tumor itself with higher doses of radiation while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and reducing side-effects. Because the side-effects of radiation therapy are generally mild, most patients are able to continue to work and maintain a relatively normal lifestyle.
In the Radiation Therapy department, Robert Kyler, MD and David Morgan, MD, board-certified radiation oncologists, oversee patient therapy, response to treatment and surveillance for recurrence. Other highly trained professionals in the department include radiation therapists, a certified medical dosimetrist, a medical physicist and oncology-certified nurses.
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Oncology care managers assist patients and families through the often complex cancer treatment process. This service is designed to help patients with issues related to transportation, medication, home care and more. Care managers work with patients and their families to identify care issues and make referrals to appropriate resources.
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The oncology clinical dietitian, registered by the American Dietetic Association, provides nutritional counseling to patients at risk for weight loss or dietary problems. The dietitian's role is to promote optimal health by managing nutrition and hydration problems caused by disease and treatment.
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Elaine Dunaway, MSW, LCSW, is a Family Therapist specializing in stress reduction and the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. She has training in guided imagery and biofeedback.
Services include:
Individual Counseling Counseling is available for persons to help cope with the stress of cancer, depression, anxiety, family and marriage issues, sleep issues and pain management.
BiofeedbackBiofeedback is an educational approach that helps people recognize and control the effects of stress on the body. Using technology, individuals learn techniques that can improve sleep, reduce muscle tension, improve mood and improve pain management.
Individual Relaxation training using Guided ImageryGuided imagery teaches persons to shift emotional distress that depletes energy to positive images that enhances healing.
All groups are free. Individual sessions are billed to insurance if appropriate. First session is free.
For more information call Elaine Dunaway at (540) 433-4249.
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 RMH Pharmacy Services purchase, store and prepare all medications administered at the Cancer Center. Pharmacy Services ensure that chemotherapy and biotherapy agents are stored and prepared safely. For patients' convenience, Pharmacy Services are available 24 hours per day to provide medications or to clarify questions about a prescription.
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The RMH Laboratory provides testing in the following specialties that are important in the diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer and hematology patients:
- Pathology—to diagnosis cancer or abnormal changes in body tissues
- Microbiology—to determine the presence of infectious organisms
- Chemistry—to study chemical changes caused by disease
- Hematology—to diagnosis blood disorders and to monitor blood counts
- Coagulation—to study blood clotting disorders or to monitor anticoagulant therapy
- Immunology—to determine immunity to diseases
- Immunohematology—to study blood and blood components
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The cancer registry plays an important role in the evaluation of cancer care. Since cancer is considered a reportable disease, the cancer registry collects and maintains data on cancers that were diagnosed or treated at RMH since 1973. This data includes the type of cancer, stage of disease at diagnosis, first course of treatment and outcome. Each year this data is submitted to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), which provides feedback to assess the quality of patient care. The NCDB allows us to compare treatment and outcomes with regional, state and national patterns.
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The oncology unit is a dedicated and specialized area designed to meet the complex and unique needs of cancer patients. Qualified oncology nurses provide expert care in relation to the disease process, treatment modalities and symptom management. The staff provides compassionate and nurturing care based on the holistic concept of treating the physical, psychological, spiritual and educational needs of each individual. The focus is patient-centered care in a family-centered environment. Patients and family members are encouraged to participate in the planning and delivery of care. The oncology unit also provides resources to help patients and families deal with the challenges of cancer.
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RMH Home Health Care is a Medicaid/Medicare-certified program that offers nursing, social work, physical and occupational therapy services to patients in their home settings. Home Health Care staff members are able to meet the needs of cancer patients and their families at any stage of the disease. Home Health Care plays a significant role in coordinating the patient’s discharge from the hospital to the home environment.
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RMH Hospice is a Medicaid/Medicare-certified program that provides end-of-life care to patients and their families. A multidisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers is specially trained to meet the physical, emotional, psychosocial, spiritual, financial, respite and bereavement needs of patients who are dying and their families. Hospice care services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Patients with cancer and their families may be confronted with profound spiritual and psychological issues. Chaplains work with patients and family members to help them identify and cope with these concerns. They provide resources of faith, religion and spirituality in keeping with the beliefs of patients and their families.
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