Premier Health Cancer Care Focused on Inspiring Better Health

By Lori Scalise, system director, service line oncology, Premier Health; and James Ouellette, DO, clinical chair of the oncology service line, Premier Health

The need for cancer care is as great as ever. Premier Health’s oncology institute is dedicated and committed “To Inspire Better Health” by providing easier access to cancer prevention, diagnostic, and advanced multispecialty care, including supportive cancer care services for patients.

To reflect on 2022, the oncology service line team, in partnership with our Premier Physician Network of primary care and ObGyn practices, continued to focus on cancer prevention compliance for patients with a family history of cancer; or who met the requirements for various cancer screening and surveillance. “The best defense to cancer is to catch it early or prevent it” says Joe Allen, MD, medical director of Premier Physician Network Primary Care. This will continue to be a strategic priority with further enhancements to our cancer prevention program.

Premier Health also launched a Lung Nodule Evaluation Program in May with a dedicated nurse practitioner to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage of the disease. Since launching this program, approximately 700 patients have been enrolled to receive education and ongoing surveillance. To refer a patient to this program, call (937) 208-6730(937) 208-6730 or EPIC Referral CON30663.

In December, Miami Valley Hospital South increased access for cancer patients by expanding the fourth  floor of the comprehensive cancer center. The expansion provides 22 infusion suites, a satellite infusion pharmacy with an ambulatory oncology pharmacist to consult with providers and patients, and a nutrition room within the infusion center. Adjacent to the infusion center, the hospital expanded the Premier Blood and Cancer Center space to accommodate the growing medical oncology and hematology team, as well as to provide cancer patients with a more seamless patient experience.

Looking forward to 2023, the oncology service line’s strategic priorities include the expansion of programs and services:

• Miami Valley Hospital Cancer Care and Infusion Center at 1111 Sweitzer Street, Suite E, Greenville, opened Medical Oncology and Hematology Clinic on Feb 6. to see oncology patients. The infusion center and pharmacy will be coming soon. Radiation oncology services will be provided in the same building.
• Miami Valley Hospital North will expand the infusion center footprint from seven suites to 25 infusion suites with pharmacy and cancer nutrition space for patients by the end of June.
• Premier Comprehensive Breast Cancer Clinic (in pilot phase) at Miami Valley Hospital South Comprehensive Cancer Center is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers a patient-centered holistic approach. A dedicated interdisciplinary care team provides same-day consultation and treatment planning for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the center. To refer a patient who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer and who needs treatment planning, call (937) 438-PINK (7465) or Epic referral CON30701.
• Other clinics currently being evaluated and/or developed this year for MVHS Comprehensive Cancer Center include:
  • Cancer Survivorship Clinic
  • High-Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic
  • Cancer Nutrition Clinic
• The Comprehensive Head and Neck Cancer and Reconstruction Program has recently launched a new physician guide to services that will be sent to physicians regarding this program as it has recently expanded access for patients in the 17-county market with Kazim Alwani, MD, joining Sameep Kadakia, MD with Premier ENT Associates last October. To refer a patient to the Comprehensive Head & Neck Cancer and Reconstruction Program, call (937) 208-6730 or Epic Premier ENT Associates

Premier Health Cancer Care Services

Back to the February 2023 issue of Premier Pulse