MDNews - San Antonio

COVER FEATURE case we are presenting requires a specially tailored treatment plan. We work w ith referring physicia ns to determine speBrittany DeBerry, MD cifics about each patient's clinical needs, then collaborate across specialties to develop the most appropriate plan of care. Every surgery I perform is designed as not only the optimal treatment for breast cancer, but also the treatment that most aligns with the patient's long-term goals." "You can have surgery anywhere, but here, everyone is compassionate and dedicated to providing only the most BREAST ACCREDITATION Through this collaborative model, the team at Methodist ensures that components of excellent breast cancer care are in place at each facility. To validate their processes and quality review, one Methodist Hospital, Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, has applied for and received accreditation for breast cancer through the National Accreditation Programs for Breast Cancer. It is the first hospital-based facility in San Antonio to receive such national recognition, with more Methodist hospitals within the system on track to receive this recognition, according to Tinker. 8 | San Antonio MD NEWS I MDNEWS.COM excellent standards of patient care — the same care we would want for ourselves and our families," Dr. Grove adds. "That's the Methodist Healthcare difference that is defined by staff and physicians who practice at Methodist facilities." Plastics: Innovative Reconstruction Plastic surgery is an option for women following surgical excision of the cancer, Dr. Pisano and his partners perform innovative reconstructive surgeries such as the muscle-sparing deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap procedure. During this procedure, which offers better recovery time and reduced postoperative pain compared with traditional reconstruction methods due to the lack of muscle disruption, he transplants tissue from the lower abdomen to the chest wall and reattaches blood vessels taken from the region to those in the chest using microsurgical techniques. Only trained surgeons with an expert team of operating staff can perform this technically challenging operation, and few institutions not affiliated with university medical centers offer the option. Dr. Pisano estimates his group performs more than 500 during the course of a year, the vast majority at Methodist Hospital. There, the breast cancer nursing team has been assisting with this procedure for more than a decade. "We perform state-of-the-art reconstructions in astonishing volumes," he says. "We're not dabbling. We're not getting out the textbook to figure out how to perform the procedure because we only do it once a month — we do it multiple times per day." Navigating Complex Treatment Physicians and hospital leadership worked together to add patient navigators to the staff, offering an additional layer of support for women embarking on the journey of cancer treatment. As part of the team, patient navigators play an integral part in maintaining an elite standard of care. Lorraine Infantino, RN, BSN, MSN, Certified Breast Health Nurse Navigator, located at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, keeps patients on track to receive the care they need. The navigator meets with patients upon receiving the initial phone call. From that point forward, Infantino serves as the primary patient contact, facilitating interactions and appointments with medical oncologists, surgeons and radiation oncologists, as well as plastic surgeons, to ensure patients have access to comprehensive care. In addition, the nurse navigator links patients to numerous survivorship and support groups offered by Methodist Healthcare or other organizations in the San Antonio region. The navigator also arranges transportation and secures insurance authorizations for those who need them. Dedication and compassion — exhibited by the nurse navigator's devotion to the patients — are salient qualities of the entire Methodist Healthcare System, according to Kathy Grove, MD. She notes that routine checkups take about 20 minutes, but for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, Dr. Grove and the Breast Center staff Kathy Grove, MD at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital spend 90 minutes ensuring patients have all the information they need and know their physicians support them. All-Encompassing Care The long-standing model of excellence, complemented by layers of support within Methodist Healthcare, provides patients leading-edge, compassionate care. Physicians referring their patients to Methodist can rest assured their patients will receive the excellent care from the physicians and skilled breast care team that has set the bar for breast cancer care in San Antonio. For more information about breast cancer treatment or to refer a patient, please visit www.SAHealth.com or call 210-575-0355. I

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