SISTER CARITAS CANCER CENTER PATIENT GUIDE

SISTER CARITAS CANCER CENTER PATIENT GUIDE

PATIENT GUIDE This guide provides you with information to help you prepare for your first visit to the Sister Caritas Cancer Center. Our goal is to make sure you are fully informed about your diagnosis and treatment and feel comfortable asking questions if you are unsure about any issues that arise regarding your treatment. Our staff is committed to providing you with the highest quality of care, while offering the support you need. ABOUT US The Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center is specially designed to provide state-of-the-art medicine and technology, while offering quality patient care and providing the patient, family, and caregivers a supportive therapeutic environment. Our Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American College of Radiology, ensuring that every patient receives exceptional treatment and support throughout their cancer journey. Construction of our first Cancer Center began in 1993 to meet the growing need for cancer care throughout the Pioneer Valley. In 2002 the Cancer Center expanded to offer some of the most advanced diagnostic technology and radiation treatment. The Sister Caritas Cancer Center has made strides to use advanced therapy and diagnostics, including gene sequencing, targeted therapies. We are currently undergoing a $15 million dollar expansion, which is expected to be complete in the winter of 2015. This expansion of the cancer center will allow for extension of services to include 34 new chemotherapy infusion bays and the ability to conduct 30,000 treatments per year. 1

WELCOME Our team of oncology specialists is here to provide you with state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment and to ensure that your needs are addressed in a comprehensive, compassionate and collaborative manner. Our team is comprised of Board Certified: Medical Oncologists Radiation Oncologists Surgical Oncologists Registered Oncology Nurses Physicists, Dosimetrists and Radiation Therapists Oncology Nurse Navigators available to guide you and your family members through your care Registered Dieticians specializing in the nutritional needs of patients with cancer Social Workers devoted specifically to the needs of cancer patients Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists dedicated to maintaining and/or improving your functional abilities throughout your care At your first visit to the Sister Caritas Cancer Center you will meet with your physician to discuss your treatment options. Once you and your physician have decided upon your course of treatment, you will meet with Nurses and other Providers to discuss management strategies, possible side effects and other options to meet your social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs. 2

PLANNING YOUR VISIT Driving Directions From the North: Take Route 91 South to exit 8: Route 291/20 East. Take exit 3: Armory Street. Go through traffic light and then follow rotary around to the left. At the blinking red light, turn right onto Armory Street. Follow Armory Street to first traffic light. Turn left onto Carew Street. Mercy Medical Center is one-half mile on the left. From the South: Take Route 91 North to exit 8: Route 291/20 East. Take the first exit, 2B: Dwight Street. Turn left at the stop sign onto Dwight Street. At the second traffic light turn right onto Carew Street. Mercy Medical Center is one-half mile on the right. From the East: Take Route 291 West to exit 3: Armory Street. Take your first left. At the blinking red light, turn right onto Armory Street. Follow directions from the North listed above. From the West: Take Route 90/Mass Turnpike East to exit 6: Route 291 (Springfield/Hartford). At traffic light, turn left onto Route 291 West (Springfield). Take exit 3: Armory Street. Take your first left. At the blinking red light, turn right onto Armory Street. Follow directions from the North listed above. Sister Caritas Cancer Center Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital 3

PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT Before your appointment: Obtain insurance: If your insurance requires a referral, please contact your primary care physician s office so that the referral may be in place prior to your appointment. Preschedule an interpreter: We want you to feel as comfortable as possible at your first visit. If you are hearing impaired, or if English is not your preferred language, please alert our scheduling staff when you call, and we will be happy to accommodate you. Complete the necessary paperwork: To make the check-in process easier, print and fill out the form below, and bring it with you to your first visit. New Patient Form link Know where you are going: Medical Oncology has 2 locations: one is located in the Main Mercy Medical Center building, and the other is located across the campus in the Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital building. Be sure to confirm the location of your appointment for Medical Oncology to park in the correct location. Radiation Oncology is located in the Main Mercy Medical Center building. If you have any questions, call Medical Oncology at 413-748-7370 or Radiation Oncology at 413-748-9230. ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT What to bring Please be sure to bring your insurance card, necessary paperwork, forms and films, as well as a medication list. The medication list should include all prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, alternative medications and supplements you are currently taking. Additionally, please bring the name and contact information of your preferred pharmacy. You might also want to bring a book or magazine. Mercy Medical Center has free Wi-Fi access for your convenience. Arriving Arrive 30 minutes early for your appointment in order to find parking and make your way to the cancer center. Regardless of your appointment location, you will enter at Mercy Medical Center s main road entrance at 271 Carew Street. After entering, follow signs directing you to the appropriate parking area. 4

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VISIT Bring a family member or friend We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to help listen and take notes. Bringing someone with you for company or support can make you feel more at ease during your visit. Ask questions Communicating with your doctor and health care team is very important. Don t be afraid to share your concerns, and don t hesitate to ask questions, or ask for something to be explained again. Here are some basic questions your doctor can answer for you: What s wrong with me? What treatment do you recommend? Are there other treatments? What are the benefits of these treatments? What are the risks of treatment? What medicines are you giving me? What are they for? How should I expect to feel during treatment? What side effects, if any, can I expect to have? FINANCIAL AND LEGAL MATTERS Accepted Insurance Plans The Sister Caritas Cancer Center accepts most major insurance plans. If you have a question about insurance acceptance or don t see your provider on the list, please call us at 413-748-7370. Aetna Baycare PHO BCBS BMC Healthnet Plan Celticare Cigna Commonwealth Care Alliance Connecticare Consolidated Health Plan Coventry Fallon Health Plan Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Health New England MassHealth Medicaid Medicare Multiplan Network Health Plan Northeast Health Direct Rail Road Medicare Tufts Health Plan Tufts Medicare Preferred 5

PATIENT SUPPORT AND SERVICES Interpreter Services Mercy Medical Center provides interpreting services for patients whose first language is not English. This service is free of charge and available to all patients and their family members. Patients and families can request an interpreter for any activity at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, including registration, booking appointments, attending treatments and exams, and meetings with doctors and other members of your health care team. To preschedule an interpreter, please contact our Interpreting Services Department at 413-452-6031. Patient Navigator The Patient Navigator Program is a complimentary service delivered by our oncology-certified nurses. Our Navigators are knowledgeable and compassionate, and empathize with patient challenges by providing support and education. To ensure delivery of the best possible cancer care, our Navigators will guide you through the various departments and services needed in your cancer treatment. Please call: 413-748-9169 Social Work and Supportive Counseling The Sister Caritas Cancer Center currently has two licensed social workers who provide social work intervention and service. Our social work team will meet your needs at any time throughout your care. Please call: 413-748-9230 Spiritual Care Support is available to our patients of all faiths as well as patients with no religious affiliation. Our staff will assist patients with adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, addressing a medical/ethical issue, or having a chaplain visit with the patient or family members. Please call: 413-748-9457 Survivorship Program The Survivorship program at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center provides supplemental medical care, education, and counseling to help patients manage issues related to cancer survivorship. Our Survivorship Staff will spend additional time to ensure a patient s complete understanding of the diagnosis and treatment plan. Please call: 413-748-7215 STAR Program (Cancer Rehabilitation) At Mercy Medical Center and the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, we are dedicated to helping patients with cancer function at the highest level possible throughout their treatment regimen and beyond. Cancer itself, and cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) may cause fatigue, pain, weakness, imbalance, memory concentration problems, and overall functional loss. The goal of the STAR Program (Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation) is to minimize treatment side effects and to facilitate healing after treatment so that your quality of life is maintained and/or restored as best as possible. Please call: 413-748-6880 Support Groups Social Services periodically provides Support Groups. Look for posted announcements Contact Sister Madeleine Joy, SP at 413-748-9453 regarding weekly support and caregivers group and grief support group meetings. 6

Sister Caritas Cancer Center 271 Carew Street Springfield, MA 01104 MercyCares.com A member of the Sisters of Providence Health System and Trinity Health. Mercy 2014-311 3/15