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Serving Our Patients
Victor E. Clarke Miami Cancer Institute Charitable Foundation2019 – 2020 2019 IMPACT REPORT Highlights
Serving Our Patients
One of the hallmarks of Miami Cancer Institute is providing high-tech, high-touch care to patients and families. This is accomplished by balancing state-of-the-art technology with the fine art of compassionate care. Our multidisciplinary clinic model makes it possible for patients to see all their specialists on the same day. To sustain the Institute's healing mission, many programs were expanded and new ones were created in 2019:
Laboratory and Enhanced Clinical Pharmacy Services: Patients and their families rely on Miami Cancer Institute’s clinical laboratories to provide accurate and quick results. The Institute’s laboratories service about 400 patients daily in six locations across two counties. Clinical pharmacy specialists now work alongside healthcare professionals to make clinical recommendations, improve patient care and safety, and educate patients and families on medications and support services available for those living with cancer.
Blood and Marrow Transplant: Transplant patients now have the convenience of staying close to home and receiving care from a highly skilled and professional team of caregivers. In 2019, a five-bed inpatient unit opened at Baptist Hospital with daily multidisciplinary rounds. In the Fall, together with Clinical Research, the Blood and Marrow team launched its first outpatient CAR TCell Clinical Trial for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This promising cancer immunotherapy has the potential to work with a patient’s immune system by reprogramming their T cells (or fighter cells).
Clinical Trials: 39 new studies opened in the areas of medical oncology, pediatric oncology and radiation oncology. To date, the Clinical Trials team has managed 170 studies and over 300 patients in therapeutic trials, providing new and innovative approaches to cancer treatments.
Patient Information Folders: Through the generosity of an anonymous family foundation, Miami Cancer Institute developed bilingual patient information folders for both adults and pediatric patients, and began distributing them in September 2019. These folders include information that orients patients to the facility, explains processes, provides resources and tools, and organizes appointments, test results and treatment plans throughout the continuum of care.
Victor E. Clarke Miami Cancer Institute Charitable Foundation2019 – 2020 2019 IMPACT REPORT Highlights
Serving Our Patients
Cancer Survivorship Clinic: The clinic provides comprehensive and expanded medical services to children and adults who have completed curative treatment at Miami Cancer Institute. A customized treatment report and tips on how to manage long-term, cancer-related effects help patients transition to a life beyond cancer. The clinic also coordinates cancer surveillance care and promotes healthy lifestyle behaviors, including stress management and nutritional counseling, designed exclusively for cancer survivors.
Integrative Medicine: The Integrative Medicine Program promotes lifestyle changes that work together with traditional medical treatments to enhance patient health and wellness. In June 2019, the program launched its acupuncture service line. To date, 77 patients have been treated. In addition, 1,236 therapeutic oncology massage visits were provided, a 147 percent growth rate; and the nutrition team provided 3,748 patient visits, a 26 percent growth rate.
Brain Fitness Lab: The brain fitness lab assesses and treats cancer-related cognitive dysfunction (also known as “chemo-brain”). Tools include computerized neurocognitive remediation training protocols and customized neuropsychological interventions to restore and enhance adult and pediatric cancer survivors’ cognitive and functional outcomes.
Cancer Rehabilitation: This multidisciplinary program helps patients adapt to physical changes during and after cancer treatment so they can regain control over as many aspects of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. Conditions, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased range of motion in joints, nerve pain, speech and swallowing disorders, are addressed, as well as assessment for orthotics and prosthetics. The program has grown 140 percent since 2018.
Symptom Management and Palliative Medicine: Symptom Management and Palliative Medicine provides patient and family-centered care that improves quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering for patients facing a life-limiting illness. The team is dedicated to empowering patients and families to play an active role in choosing a personalized medical plan of care. Palliative medicine specialists spend time discovering what is important to patients on a personal level, and helping them understand how to achieve their goals throughout their cancer journey.
