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ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida ...ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida

Oncologists Can Find Innovation Solutions

in a Hospice Partnership

Specialists and ing their guidelines and mined to be ineffective. One of the OCM’s interdisciplinary care team—nurse, aide,
healthcare providers metrics. Partnering with a metrics, for example, tracks whether a physician, social worker, chaplain,
who participate in provider who has operated cancer patient received chemotherapy bereavement specialist and volunteer—is
Medicare’s oncology under similar guidelines within 30 days of dying—an indication in line with current interest in patient-cen-
care model (OCM) have and protocols for decades that palliative/hospice care was not initiat- tered care and the shift from high-cost,
something in common can help oncologists: ed soon enough. VITAS can help oncolo- high-intervention facilities to home,
with hospice providers: • embed innovation into gists, patients and families with improved where patients prefer to be and where
Many of the metrics their practices prognostication, honest goals-of-care con- most hospice care is provided.
oncologists are being • improve care coordina- versations and timely hospice referrals. In the home environment, a hospice
asked to meet, and the tion Benefits extend beyond care partner serves as an extra set of eyes and
protocols they’re tasked • support the continuity Hospice partnerships are common ears on patients for cancer specialists, pro-
with integrating into the of care that a long-term dis- throughout the healthcare industry. VITAS viding timely feedback, symptom and pain
care of their cancer ease demands has established successful partnerships management, and routine monitoring for
patients, have been fun- and relationships with regional and changes that might signal decline or a
damental to the hospice BY ILEANA LEYVA, MD How an oncology- national medical schools, skilled nursing need for changes in the care plan.
profession for 40 years. hospice framework facilities, assisted living facilities and When patients are referred to palliative
In fact, oncologists can help accountable care organizations. or hospice care, their oncologists (and pri-
can find solutions for timely, appropriate, A hospice partnership provides cancer Partners value hospice’s expertise with mary care physicians) are encouraged to
high-quality and cost-effective cancer care specialists with experienced colleagues interdisciplinary care teams, care coordi- remain involved, both for the expertise
by considering a partnership with an who are familiar and comfortable with nation and disease-specific protocols. and insights they can provide and in
experienced hospice and palliative care OCM’s emphases on goals-of-care conver- They appreciate our comfort level with the recognition of the doctor-patient relation-
provider like VITAS Healthcare, which has sations, advance care planning, symptom hard conversations that arise around end- ship that has evolved and deepened over
specialized in end-of-life care in South management, pain relief and the timely of-life care and the cessation of curative months and years.
Florida since 1978. introduction of palliative care, as suggest- treatments. They take advantage of our Healthcare is undergoing rapid change,
To improve the delivery and quality of ed by the American Society of Clinical continuing education expertise and train- and cancer specialists can pursue innova-
patient care while controlling healthcare Oncology. ing capabilities on numerous topics, from tion by relying on hospice professionals
costs, the Centers for Medicare and VITAS can help oncologists by provid- end-of-life care for military veterans to who are both familiar and experienced
Medicaid Services and other insurers have ing: wound care, hospice eligibility and with the new standards, metrics and
created disease-specific care models that • palliative care for patients who want advance directives. guidelines that oncologists are being asked
incentivize physicians and specialists who to maintain quality of life, manage side Partners also value VITAS’ data and our to embrace.
meet the new practice guidelines and effects and address pain as they undergo investment in resources that enable us to
penalize them on reimbursements if they chemotherapy and other life-prolonging track and document care protocols, care Dr. Ileana Leyva is regional medical direc-
do not. treatments allocation and outcomes for high-acuity tor for VITAS Healthcare in South Florida
Cancer is the leading diagnosis for refer- • hospice care—with its focus on com- and complex patients. and Georgia. For more information about
ral to VITAS hospice care. We understand passionate care, dignity and quality of life VITAS, visit VITAS.com
how busy oncologists are, and the con- at the end of life—when standard cancer Leading innovation and change or call (866) 759-6695.
straints and challenges they face in meet- treatments have been exhausted or deter- Additionally, hospice’s reliance on an

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

of the Harvey & Phyllis Sandler Pavilion

Boca Raton Regional Hospital (BRRH) distinguishing characteristic offered at
is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of its the Sandler Pavilion are its multimodali-
Harvey & Phyllis Sandler Pavilion. The ty clinics that eliminate patients’ need to
$73 million, 98,000 square-foot facility travel from physician to physician and
opened in 2008. The Sandler Pavilion manage their own schedule. The multi-
was made possible through a historic $20 modality clinics bring the entire medical
million lead gift from Harvey and Phyllis team to each patient in one location.
Sandler, as well as other community phi- Multimodality clinics, coordinated care
lanthropists. and access to clinical research are char-
The Sandler Pavilion houses the acteristics of the nation’s top cancer pro-
Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Cancer grams.
Institute (LCI) – one of the largest cancer Licensed oncology nurses and social
programs in Florida that treats an esti- workers provide guidance and support
mated 4,000 newly diagnosed cancer for patients as they navigate the cancer
patients each year. LCI is accredited by care process. Each coordinator helps the
the American College of Surgeons patient understand and coordinate all
Commission on Cancer and has also aspects of cancer treatment including
been listed by U.S. News & World Report rapid diagnosis, education about the spe-
among the nation's High Performing cific types of cancer, appointment mak-
Hospitals in colon cancer surgery and its Center for Hematology-Oncology diagnosis, treatment and management of ing and support groups, all while provid-
lung cancer surgery. It is staffed by 24 (CHO), chemotherapy services and an cancer and blood related disorders, ing emotional encouragement for the
board-certified physicians including four infusion center. The third floor includes including chemotherapy, immunothera- patient and family during their difficult
radiation oncologists and 16 medical multimodality clinics, surgical oncology py and oral neoplastic treatments. time. The Sandler Pavilion is also used to
oncologists, 21 registered nurses and practices, cancer genetics, administrative Its state-of-the-art infusion center pro- host a variety of Wellness and
over 100 members of support staff. offices and conference areas. vides patients with an optimal therapeu- Survivorship programs and cancer sup-
The Sandler Pavilion has been nation- Its Radiation Oncology Department tic atmosphere while receiving their port groups and classes.
ally recognized with architectural awards offers a broad spectrum of the most cut- treatment. LCI is completing a brand- “Establishing the Sandler Pavilion was
for its healing environment that has ting-edge technology including the new USP-800 pharmacy capable of pro- a transformational event in the evolution
become a hallmark of LCI through its Varian Novalis Tx™ with RapidArc™ viding the full range of therapeutic med- of our cancer program,” said Louise
use of open space, music, water displays, Linear Accelerator, Nucletron Brach - ical oncology options. Morrell, MD, Medical Director of LCI.
natural light and fine art. ytherapy Suite, Novalis 4D Table, Cone LCI physicians are actively engaged in “Through its design and expanded serv-
The Sandler Pavilion’s first floor fea- Beam CT and highlighted by the Accuray front-line clinical cancer research ices, we have enhanced our level of care
tures BRRH outpatient imaging and radi- CyberKnife® M6™ System. through the National Cancer Institute and established ourselves as one of the
ation oncology. The second floor houses CHO provides advanced expertise in and pharmaceutical sponsored trials. A premier cancer centers in Florida.”

16 January 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News