WELCOME CENTER SUPPORT SERVICES
Cancer Support and Welcome Center Transitions to Virtual Programming During Pandemic
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n light of COVID-19, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center’s Cancer Support and Welcome Center began taking the appropriate steps to protect the safety of patients, caregivers, staff, and the larger Philadelphia area community last year starting in mid-March. From that point on, all in-person Welcome Center groups and classes were postponed until further notice. The Welcome Center took these precautions particularly seriously, as people with cancer often have suppressed immune systems, putting them at significant risk of infection and complications. However, the team stayed committed to supporting those in need. In consultation with Jefferson experts, the Welcome Center began hosting a variety of educational and wellness programs that anyone could virtually attend through private, HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing. “We were able to utilize an easy step on Zoom to allow patients and caregivers the ability to register in advance so that we were able to guarantee safety for those given access to enter our programs,” said SKCC social worker and Welcome Center staff member Miriam Pomerantz, MSW, LSW. At the end of March, the Welcome Center hosted its first two virtual programs with a total of 46 participants. By April, there were 34 virtual programs available that had more than 360 participants. Some of the available programs included yoga for stress relief, tips on how to deal with cancer during the pandemic, and various support groups. “One of the reasons that our
programming was up and running so quickly was due to the positive response of the social work and supportive services team in being so willing to offer virtual support to patients on a variety of topics,” said Angela Harnish, Resource Coordinator for the Welcome Center.
This year’s annual Cancer Survivor Day turned into a virtual celebration
“Our patients and caregivers alike have been extremely grateful for the different variety of programs being offered and have stated that they can really rely on their care team during this uncertain time,” said Lisa Capparella, MSS, LCSW, OSW-C, Manager
“Patients & caregivers alike have been extremely grateful for the different variety of programs being offered and have stated that they can really rely on their care team during this uncertain time.” of the Welcome Center. The Center has also given patients and their loved ones opportunities to provide feedback on what programs work best, as well as additional programming they would like to see in the future. Although almost half of the April participants were patients and caregivers, 57% were actually healthcare providers. In the past, there was minimal programming to support staff, but the demand quickly became evident during this time. In response, the Welcome Center added faculty-centric programs that focused on topics such
as how to deal with grief and loss due to COVID-19, as well as ways to have mindful moments amid stressful times. Another virtual event available to patients, caregivers, and staff was the Cancer Survivor Day: Celebration of Life event held on June 12. Typically held in person at Jefferson, the annual event, which honors past and current cancer survivors, was moved to Zoom to protect the health and safety of all attendees. More than 130 individuals from around the country attended the two-hour celebration, which included guest speaker and cancer survivor Jonny Imerman, as well as a Q&A session with a panel of SKCC experts. Over the next few months, the Welcome Center plans to review policies and procedures to re-open to in-person visits while ensuring that the safety of patients and staff remains a top priority. In the meantime, the Center will continue providing virtual programs geared toward both patients and healthcare professionals. For questions or program suggestions, contact the Welcome Center at CancerSupportCenter@jefferson.edu or 215-955-1800. 23
