Cancer Care Support Services
There are many other friendly and caring health care professionals and support staff that will help answer your questions and provider support to you and your family while being treated for cancer.
Cancer Care Support Services Staff:
Clinical Social Worker
Medical/clinical social workers, holding a Master's degree in social work (MSW), specialize in applying clinical, advocacy and community-based skills to provide cancer care support to enhance the life experience of the individual, couple and/or family.
Financial Counselor
The Financial Counselor is qualified to answer questions about financial aid, to help handle insurance claims and to offer counseling for financial issues that may arise regarding treatment and medication. Services include providing estimates for future treatments, copays, and deductibles based on diagnosis and chosen treatment modalities, and help patients understand their insurance benefits and obligations.
Registered Dietitian
The dietitians work with individual patients and their families to evaluate the foods they can eat and help to develop personalized food guidelines. They work on encouraging patients to take an active role in their care and to make healthy eating choices which may include some dietary modifications.
Genetic Counselor
The genetic counselor is a registered nurse who specializes in genomics. He provides genetic counseling services, including genetic testing, to help you determine more your risk of developing cancer. During a genetic counseling visit, our oncology/genomics clinical nurse specialist will ask you about your family medical history, particularly about cancer and related medical conditions, to construct a "family tree" that will help us determine your risk of developing cancer. The clinical nurse specialist will share information with you about cancer genetics and will determine if genetic testing is appropriate.
Medical Assistants
The medical assistants also assist the physician with procedures and injections. They will take you to an exam room or take you into the Infusion Center on your appointment day and check your weight, blood pressure, pulse and temperature. They will also confirm with you what medications you are taking and the reason for your visit. Under the direction of the physician or the care coordinator, the MA may return your phone calls, call in prescriptions to your pharmacy or give you your laboratory and/or radiology results.
Patient Service Representative
The patient service representative (PSR) is the first person you will see when you come into the department. She/he will check you in for your appointment, take your insurance co-payment and ask if you have had any changes with your insurance coverage or home address. The PSR also schedules appointments and is the first person you will speak with on the phone.
