downloading a pdf of the Beacon. - Beebe Medical Center

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Integrating careConsidering the Whole PatientCancer Coordinator Clare Wilson,RN, MS, works closely with cancerpatients. Picture here, left to right,Susan Selph with Clare Wilson.Judith Ramirez, EdD, Manager ofPsychosocial Services and Outreachat Tunnell Cancer CenterWhether in the workplace, in the gym, or on theplaying field, professional coaches help peopleto visualize the future, to set goals, and to determinewhat they need to do to achieve them.Beebe Medical Center is taking the sameapproach to wellness. Clare Wilson, RN, MS, forinstance, is the Cancer Care Coordinator at theTunnell Cancer Center. Ms. Wilson, who has both anursing degree and a master’s degree in counseling,is a certified well coach at the center. She’s joined bythe center’s other two well coaches, Jude Johnson-Shupe, MSW, a psychosocial service specialist, andKim Westcott, a registered dietitian. The BeebeCAREs program also has a well coach on its team(see page 4).Similarly, Cancer Nurse Navigator Kathy Cook,MSN, RN, helps patients through the Beebe BreastHealth Center. Located at the Bookhammer OutpatientCenter on Route 24 in Rehoboth Beach, thecenter is the region’s only facility devoted to breastcare, diagnosis, and treatment for men and women.Well coaches and navigators address the patient’sentire well-being. They integrate care as they focuson the individual needs of each patient.Ms. Cook, who is notified when one of herpatients needs to return for more diagnostics, isa one-stop source to answer any of the patient’squestions.“Kathy educates women requiring further breasthealth testing about the next step,” says JudithRamirez, EdD, Manager of Psychosocial Services andOutreach at Tunnell Cancer Center. “If it’s a biopsy,8
Well coaches and navigators address the patient’s entire well–being. They integratecare as they focus on the individual needs of each patient.she explains the procedure. She might provide informationabout an ultrasound or a lumpectomy ormastectomy.”Not only does she answer questions, but she’llalso help patients make appointments for furthertesting. She’s happy to accompany them to theirappointments, and some patients take her up onthe offer. “I try to meet whatever their need is,” saysMs. Cook, who has received a certification in breasthealth navigation. “I’m their point of contact.”In addition to digital mammography, breast ultrasound,and minimally invasive breast biopsies, theBreast Health Center also provides care for peoplewith benign breast disease. Ms. Cook calls patients tomake sure they’ve scheduled the appropriate followupappointments. She also teaches them how to selfexaminetheir breasts.Most patients are happy to have someone to talkto, she says. Dr. Ramirez agrees: “In the six monthssince we started the nurse navigator program, I’vereceived many kudos for Kathy’s services. It’s allabout the emotional connection.”Forming an emotional connection is also part ofthe work that Clare Wilson does as the Cancer CareCoordinator. “Patients are not just their cancer andthey are not just patients; they are a whole person.We integrate the mind, body, and spirit,” she says.Consider the patient who recently completedradiation or chemotherapy, an occasion TunnellCancer Center marks by inviting patients to ring abell. Heard more than 1,000 times a year, the soundstands for courage, hope, triumph, strength, faith,and love.Ms. Wilson helps cancersurvivors define whothey are in the presentand envision themselvesthree months down theroad. “Coaching alwaysstarts with a vision,” sheexplains. “It should be aBreast cancer survivor Esselee Davisrings the bell at the Tunnell CancerCenter, signifying courage, hope,triumph, strength, faith, and love.powerful statement and an active statement, suchas ‘I am strong and back to work,’ or ‘I am livingpeacefully.’”The vision statement leads to goals. The goalsmeet wellness objectives, such as starting a healthydiet, gaining strength, or becoming more active.Once vision and goals have been identified, Ms.Wilson and her client discuss the unique strengthsthe person possesses that can help them realize thatgoal. They also review any barriers, and they talkabout how they might overcome these challenges.Jude Johnson-Shupe and Kim Westcott, in theirwell-coaching roles, work in the same manner withpatients.Well coaches are available to meet with caregiversand family members. They counsel those who havelost loved ones. Ms. Wilson also coordinates carebetween other facilities for those patients who dividetheir time between residences or who have soughta second opinion or specialized care outside ofTunnell Cancer Center. Both Ms. Wilson and Ms.Cook agree that navigating and counseling patients,and supporting them in the integration of their careand in focusing on their individual goals and vision,is indeed a rewarding endeavor. nRight, Kathy Cook, MSN, RN,Nurse Navigator at the BeebeBreast Health Center, guidespatients who have received apositive diagnosis for cancer throughthe process of scheduling appointments,treatments, and surgery.9
Page 3: “We are proud to share our initia
Page 6 and 7: ProcessImprovementthe Building Bloc
Page 10 and 11: Working togetherCollaborating with
Page 12 and 13: you canExpectExcellence from usBeeb
Page 14 and 15: Vascular surgeon Mayer Katz, MD,per
Page 16 and 17: community reportHospital Quality Me
Page 18: Financial Report & Community Benefi

downloading a pdf of the Beacon. - Beebe Medical Center

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?