Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1482519
care, education, follow-up and reassur- ance," Dr. Greco says. "It makes patients very happy to have consistent people be a part of their health care." An essential part of providing personal- ized care is Oneida Health's certified nurse navigator, Linda Lyon, CN-BN. "With a breast cancer diagnosis, we are just one pillar of a patient's complete care," McNeil says. "The nurse navigator is critical in holding a patient's hand every step of the way." Lyon helps patients get the necessary support they need, whether it's financial assistance, transportation, access to social workers or supplemental care. "The nurse navigator is the key to keeping the whole system moving effectively," Dr. Greco says. NETWORK OF SUPPORT When surgery is required, Dr. Greco's patients have the advantage of receiving a ll pre- and post-operative care from Roswell Pa rk, a n awa rding-winning hospital in Oneida. When other treatment options are needed, patients don't have to go far. A s a member of t he Roswel l Pa rk Care Network, Oneida Hea lth Breast Care patients have access to the latest developments in cancer treatment if they require medical or radiation oncology. " We are ver y happy to be affiliated with Roswell Park and to collaborate with them in caring for our patients," Dr. Greco says. R o s wel l Pa rk 's e x p er t i s e c a n b e accessed by Oneida patients quick ly and easily, either by on-site providers or by using telemedicine if necessary, eliminating the need to travel to Buffalo in nearly all cases. The Oneida Health Gorman Imaging Center is essentia l to brea st ca re in Oneida as well. Patients have access to robust imaging right on campus, such as 3D tomosynthesis, screening sonogram, 3 Tesla MRI, and an advanced PET CT. Dr. Greco and McNeil coordinate biopsies with the Gorman Imaging Center, if it is not something they can do in the office. According to McNeil, providing con- venient access to regular screenings is an essential part of providing compre- hensive care. "Having convenient access to a facility like Gorman Imaging is really important, so patients can easily get their annual mammograms," she says. Dr. Greco agrees and adds, "There are people who are motivated now to get their care because they can go to Oneida. All patients want to have their care close to home." A RAPIDLY CHANGING FIELD Col laborating w ith other physicia ns a nd staying up to date with the latest tech niques is essentia l to prov iding patients w it h t he best possible ca re. Brea st ca re is one of the most rapidly ch a n g i n g subspeci a lt ies of su rger y a n d m e d i c i n e , w h i c h D r. G r e c o f inds exciting. " More t ha n ever, women a re ver y invested in their own hea lth ca re," she says. " They come pre-educated w ith questions a nd have discussed options with their friends and family. Our team ta kes great pride in not only discussing their concerns but sha ring with them the adva nced treatment options, ma ny ava ilable right here in Oneida." Dr. Greco uses a dva nced su rg ica l practices such a s oncopla stic closure f o r m o r e c o s m e t i c h e a l i n g , a n d s e n t i n e l l y m p h n o d e bi o p s y a f t e r neoa djuva nt chemot herapy, t o help reduce ly mphedema compl icat ion s. S he i s hopi n g t o s o on h ave pl a s t ic surger y ava ilable at Oneida Hea lth to do si mu lt a neous ma stectom ies a nd reconstr uction, eliminating the need for patients to travel. NEW DEVELOPMENTS "In order to be a specialist, you have to stay on top of all of those changes and be aware of the most current recommendations and standards of care," Dr. Greco says. She and McNeil work closely with med- ical oncology and radiation oncology to for treatment planning, as chemotherapy and radiation therapy indications continue to change and evolve. Determining which patients qualify for genetic testing is changing too. Anyone with a history of breast cancer is now eligible for genetic testing, a change from what was recommended three years ago. "We are happy to see those patients, c o u n s e l t h e m a n d t e s t t h e m , " Dr. Greco says. ONEIDA HEALTH BREAST CARE STAFF: JAYME LOHR, DAWN LEDUC LPN, K ARISA ZUKE, LINDA LYON RN, KIM SABATINO LPN, MARY ELLEN GRECO, MD, FACS, AND KRISTEN MCNEIL, PA-C KRISTEN A. MCNEIL, PA-C M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A L N E W Y O R K n 2 0 2 2 1 9