MDNews - Central New York

Camelia Lawrence, M.D., the region's only fellowship-trained oncologic breast surgeon, sees patients on the new UHS Vestal location's third floor, which is dedicated exclusively to women's health. James D. Hayes, M.D., Medical Director of Special Projects at UHS, and Ronald Harris, D.O., oncologist/hematologist, Chair of the Oncology Committee at UHS, are principals on the tumor board, which works to improve channels of care. community like this, caring for patients is more than just a job. For us, it's a passion." Keeping the Patient Front and Center As UHS' Cancer Nurse Coordinator, Manzer can be with patients from the very beginning of their journey through their recovery. She can also step in as a patient's official course of treatment is ending but the need for continued emotional, psychological or spiritual support remains. Typically, when a pathology report con- firms a cancer diagnosis, Manzer is alerted and, after consulting with the attending physician, contacts the patient. After an initial introduction, she serves as the patient's point person, scheduling his or her appointments, organizing the various treatment modalities from the patient's point of view, and connecting the patient and his or her family with the appropriate support groups and resources, such as the American Cancer Society. Manzer currently partners with all UHS providers involved in cancer care and is developing avenues through which to integrate the community's primary care physicians in a larger capacity. She also is collaborating with UHS providers to establish a survivorship program that is not limited to following a patient's completion of his or her curative therapy. Instead, it will be part of a proactive and ongoing strategy implemented at diagnosis. The endeavor unites the medical specialties with providers of alternative or supportive therapies, including care for cancer-related fatigue, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, meditation, and physical and occupational therapy, as well as social work services. In addition, palliative care services are already in place throughout the UHS system to provide care for long-term symptom and side effect-related medical concerns following cancer treatment. According to Manzer, she and her col- leagues began with the idea of combating the lingering side effects of curative treat- ment, such as lymphedema, motion issues in joints, neuropathy and post-traumatic stress syndrome. The team discovered that shifting the survivorship program timeline from the end of treatment to the beginning and the focus from the contributing depart- ments to the patient could dramatically improve the patient's overall health. The survivorship program will help patients maintain a healthy diet and activity level, incorporate physical therapy into their treatment course, offer career and financial counseling, and mobilize patients' social support networks. "Our ultimate goal is that, from the time patients walk through the door, throughout their treatment and their lives, they are connected to us," Manzer says. "And we walk them through each of those steps. We want them to have the emotional, psychosocial and spiritual support they need to reconnect with their lives." Behind the Scenes The seamless transitions that patients experience at UHS are part of a complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure built to ensure that cancer care is delivered with Michael Farrell, M.D., UHS breast surgeon and avid promoter of wellness and prevention, practices what he preaches. His lifestyle includes a healthy dose of bicycling. MDNEWS.COM s MD NEWS Central New York | 7 Nancy Shumeyko, M.D., OB/GYN, treats many cancer patients in the greater Binghamton community. Molli Reppard, R.N., Nursing Coordinator, UHS Radiation Oncology

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