INTOUCH - Baylor Health Care System

Oncology Outpatient ClinicAA major aspect of the new Baylor Charles A. SammonsCancer Center at Dallas is the Oncology OutpatientClinic. The new location in Suite 250 of the cancercenter has expanded services and patient navigatorsand other healing services for patients in one convenientlocation.“We expect 500 to 800 patients a day coming throughthe outpatient cancer center and they will be able tosee nearly all of their specialists in one building,” saysDonna Bowers, vice president of oncology for BaylorHealth Care System. “Every patient will also haveaccess to a patient navigator to help coordinate theircare.”Among the services available in the outpatient clinicare:• Bone tumor clinic• Dental clinic• Head and neck cancer clinic• Integrative medicine• Physical rehabilitation including a specialized gymwith physical therapy, occupational therapy andspeech therapy• Skin cancer evaluation clinicWhile many of these services are currently offered,they will all be expanded and new services will enhancethe treatment experience. With a physician referral,patients will have access to the new IntegrativeMedicine program. Patients meet with a fellowshiptrainedphysician in integrative medicine to developa personalized plan for complimentary treatmentoptions that work with their traditional medicine. TheIntegrative Medicine program is located in Suite 200.For more information, please call 214.820.3535.“In our new outpatient cancer center, we will offeran Integrative Medicine program that provides a newdimension to cancer care,” says Alan Miller, M.D.,Ph.D., chief of oncology for Baylor Health CareSystem and medical director of Baylor SammonsCancer Center. “This is a dimension of care that willfocus on and address the nutritional, physical, emotionaland spiritual aspects of cancer treatment.”The dental clinic is another new area being broughtinto the outpatient clinic that will benefit patients.“Checking dental hygiene before, during and aftertreatment is a very important part of the process,”says Sylvia Coats, director of Baylor Sammons CancerCenter administration. “Chemotherapy and surgerycan affect oral health and patients can also have issuesbeing immunosuppressed or developing infections.We now have the ability to monitor dental health tohopefully avoid problems for them all in a convenientlocation.”“In 2011, we are celebrating 35 years of cancer care inthe region and beyond,” says Dr. Miller. “Baylor hasexperienced clinical and medical staff focused ondelivering quality and compassionatecancer care. We are the cancercare market leaders in NorthTexas based upon bothnumber of patientstreated and consumerchoice.” (source:National ResearchCorporation).15