Patient Care
The Division continues to enhance patient care through service at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, the Ohio State University Medical Center and the Camelot Women’s Cancer Center. While members of the Division are nationally recognized in multiple arenas, including research and education, the foundation of our program is comprehensive, compassionate, and state-of-the-art care for women diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. In this capacity, we emphasize our own continuous quality improvement, excellent customer service and patient satisfaction, patient education and improved quality of life.
The Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University is one of only 38 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only freestanding cancer hospital in the Midwest. The mission of the James is to provide the highest quality of patient care that is distinguished through its research and education. The James was ranked #15 nationally for cancer rankings in the U.S. News and World Report for 2007. The James is among 41 hospitals named one of the 2007 Leapfrog Top Hospitals of over 1,285 applicants. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology contributed greatly to this concerted effort, as almost 10% of the cancer cases reported in the registry at the James for 2006 were gynecologic in origin. The gynecologic oncology service has been extremely busy accounting for the third highest volume in admissions to the James behind medical oncology and surgical oncology.
Members of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology provide comprehensive services for patients diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies, including radical pelvic surgery, pelvic and vaginal reconstruction, advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and care for complications of disease and/or treatment. The following are some of the unique clinical services available to patients:
1) Minimally Invasive Surgery:
a. Advanced laparoscopic surgery in gynecologic oncology, making it possible for patients with adnexal mass and/or cancer diagnosis to be managed with this less invasive surgical technique.
b. Robotic Surgery - Drs. Fowler, Cohn and most recently Dr. O’Malley are certified to perform robotic surgery, the most recent and least invasive of current surgical techniques. Currently, we have performed over 300 major robotic surgical cases, which establish the James as one of the leading centers for gynecologic oncology robotic surgery in the country.
2) Intraoperative radiation therapy, making it possible for selected patients to receive advanced radical pelvic surgeries in combination with intraoperative radiation therapy.
3) Pelvic reconstructive surgery including vaginal reconstruction. These procedures are often necessary in conjunction with ultra-radical surgical procedures or after undesired sequelae from multi-modality therapy.
We continue to emphasize patient education and support. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology, in collaboration with the James Care for Life Program, created patient education notebooks for surgery and chemotherapy. All patients seen in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology receive a personalized educational notebook during their initial visit to our office. Each notebook describes the patient’s diagnosis and their prescribed therapy. Nurses personally counsel patients and their families in preparation for surgery and chemotherapy. We also work closely with members of the Department of Radiation Therapy to coordinate care of patients requiring those services.
In order to facilitate patient referral and enhance education prior to the patient’s first visit with us, folders are distributed to target referring physicians’ offices in Ohio and West Virginia. These folders provide information describing our physicians and medical staff, which can be given to patients when they are at the referring physician’s office. This information is also available on our website (jamesgynonc.com). Once a patient has been referred to our office, the referring physician’s office can provide the patient with educational materials about the patient’s cancer diagnosis, “What to Expect,” on their first visit to our office, and biographical information on each physician. This information has been very much appreciated by our referring physicians’ offices and their patients.
Outpatient services at Camelot Women’s Health Center provide easy access and personalized care in a comfortable setting every weekday. Services included are new and follow-up visits, chemotherapy administration, and support groups. A portion of Camelot is also dedicated to the Gynecologic Cancer Center program. This includes space for epidemiologic and psychosocial researchers, a conference room, and space for our research nurses and program coordinator.
The Gynecologic Oncology Support Group meets monthly. One on one peer support is available through “Patient to Patient” which consists of gynecologic oncology patients who have received chemotherapy from our physicians. They volunteer to help newly diagnosed patients and answer any questions prior to initiation of chemotherapy. The volunteers also offer to assist patients at any point during their treatment. We currently have 12 volunteers in this group. We have also had special support sessions including such topics as management of lymphedema, peripheral neuropathy, and art, music and theater therapy.
For patient clinic map and directions go to www.jamesgynonc.com