Brain Tumor Center's Focus on Patients is Inspiring

While last weekend's Community Advisory Board meeting was loaded with information, we didn't get a chance to talk about all the great things
happening in the area of patient advocacy.  Tara Stamper, NP, neuro-oncology nurse practitioner of the Brain Tumor Center, recently provided an update that I thought might interest you.

There are five main areas of focus for patient advocacy right now, according to Tara:

1. Patient Education
   The team has been developing patient education materials to cover the entire spectrum of brain tumors and their related treatments, side effects, etc.  You can see many of them on www.UCBrainTumorCenter.com in the "About Tumors" section.  As Tom Rosenberger mentioned in our Board Meeting, they are also developing a tumor-specific "Web site within a Web site" that will allow one-click access for visitors who want access to all information on the Web site about a certain tumor type. They hope to pilot the tumor-specific sites later this year.
2. Patient Triage
   The center is preparing to launch a new minor care brain tumor clinic to address the non-acute needs of brain tumor patients after hours and on weekends.  It will be located on the fourth floor of University Hospital (the neuro floor) and will be staffed by neuroscience nurses on the floor.  The clinic will start seeing patients in late March.
3. Neuropsychology Program
   Tara and her nursing team are actively working with a neuropsychologist from the Drake Center to develop patient pathways for neuropsychological care specific to brain tumor patients.  The goal is to better meet the psychosocial needs of our patients.  This is an important aspect of patient care that is often neglected and certainly underutilized.
4. Support Group Participation
   Several physicians and nurses of the Brain Tumor Center have been active facilitators of the Brain Tumor Networking Support Group, which is part of The Wellness Community in Blue Ash, giving a variety of presentations, leading group meetings, and serving as resources for group members.  The Brain Tumor Center is continuing to build its working relationship with the Wellness Community, as well as the Michael Quinlan Foundation Support Group outside Louisville.  Dr. Jessica Guarnaschelli and Tara will be travelling there in June to give a presentation to that support group as well.
5. Patient Itinerary
   In most centers, including ours, patients come into a complex system with multiple appointment sheets, maps, and forms to fill out.  The team is working on a personalized plan of care for our patients once they are registered.  Essentially, the plan is for each patient to receive a customized printout of their coordinated itinerary, listing all appointments, diagnostic tests, and procedures,  coupled with corresponding patient education materials, maps, and other pertinent information.  The project is in process and a launch date has not yet been secured.

This is great progress.  We will keep you updated on these projects as they move forward.  Next week, I have asked Dr. Warnick to give us an update on the Acuity Adjustable Patient Care Unit project.  In the meantime, please remember to send me or Kimbaird your updated contact information and your invitees for the Wine Tasting on April 29.  Take care!

Sincerely,

Kathy Beechem, Chair
Community Advisory Board