Download Support Services at the Augusta Health Cancer Center

Caring Beyond Cancer
Treating cancer involves procedures and protocols. Caring for a patient with cancer is
much more than that—it means putting patients at the center of all that is done to
support and guide them through their experiences. Augusta Health has developed an
array of supportive services—all available through the Augusta Health Cancer Center—
to allow patients not simply to survive, but to thrive, by caring for the whole person, not
just the disease.
Augusta’s patient-centered care is comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated.
These programs and services—focusing on the social, emotional, and spiritual as well
as the physical needs—help ease the burden of a cancer diagnosis by providing
innovative and individualized assistance that helps patients and families overcome
barriers and regain or maintain a quality life.
Psychosocial Services—Social Workers and Support Groups
540-245-7105
Augusta Health’s Social Services Department understands that patients with cancer and
their families have many needs such as transportation, short-term housing, or
medication assistance. A full-time social worker is available weekdays during clinic hours
to help patients and families with practical needs and emotional and financial issues.
A way to ease the stress of dealing with cancer—for a patient, caregiver, or family
member—is to share the experience with others in the same situation. Augusta Health
currently offers two support groups: Lean on Me for caregivers on Mondays from 4-5 pm
and Friends Listening to Friends for newly diagnosed patients on Wednesdays from 4-5
pm. Both groups take place in the Augusta Health Cancer Center Conference Room.
Breast Health Navigation Program
540-332-5072
A diagnosis of breast cancer presents complicated decisions and overwhelming choices.
It presents the need to coordinate appointments for diagnostic tests and treatments.
Patients often feel they need someone to help them navigate through this confusing
health care maze. Breast Health Navigator Meg Shrader, RN, BSN, CBCN—who has
been recognized with many honors in her field—is a dedicated oncology nurse who
coordinates all aspects of care and serves as a single point-of-contact for patients from
diagnosis through treatment. She is a resource for patients, families, and the
community—during breast screening and through treatment and survivorship.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
540-332-5522
Patients with cancer have complex nutritional needs. Their metabolisms are altered, and
their tumors compete for their body’s nutrients. They experience nausea, loss of appetite
and mouth sores from treatments. Eating is no longer pleasurable. Oncology patients
are at risk for malnutrition. All these issues mean patients and families have many
questions about eating and proper nutrition. At Augusta Health, a board-certified
specialist in oncology nutrition assesses all in-patient oncology patients and provides
nutritional support through the use of diet, medical nutritional supplements, tube feeding,
and/or parental nutrition.
Therapy Services at Lifetime Center
No one likes to feel dependent on others, so Augusta Health uses a team approach to
therapy to make sure each patient with cancer remains as independent as possible. The
therapists work together—creating individually designed programs combining services
such as lymphedema therapy, energy conservation techniques, independent living skills,
non-pharmaceutical pain control, strengthening exercises, and education—to help
patients and survivors stay strong and achieve as “‘normal a life” as possible. The
therapy team includes occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreation therapists,
certified lymphedema therapists, and speech/language pathologists. Services are
located in Augusta Health’s Therapy @ Lifetime Center, Monday through Friday from
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Patient and Family Education
540-332-5960
They say “knowledge conquers fear.” The Augusta Health Cancer Center team builds on
this concept by providing individualized education and information to patients and
families based on cancer type, treatment, and possible side effects. This helps patients
make more informed decisions and assume responsibility for their care. Augusta Health
and the American Cancer Society (ACS) offer Cancer Resource Days three times each
week in the center’s waiting area. An ACS volunteer is available to offer personal
assistance to find the books, brochures, and DVDs patients seek and connect them with
complementary services in the community.
Chaplaincy Program
Who couldn’t use someone to lean on or an ear to bend? Augusta Health volunteer
chaplains are experienced clergy and members of the Augusta team. They are trained
listeners, ready to provide confidential assistance to people of all faiths and backgrounds
without judgment or pressure. They can offer prayer, presence, and consultation about
specific religious practices and grief and loss support.
Healthy Lifestyles Program at Lifetime Fitness Center
Augusta Health’s Lifetime Fitness Center offers classes for people with chronic diseases
and monitored medical programs to help patients overcome obstacles to reach fitness
goals.
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Personal, supervised land and water exercise programs help reduce symptoms of
conditions like cancer.
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Client Training Plus, one-on-one exercise with a “helping hand” for equipment setup, helps individuals with medical conditions who cannot exercise on their own.
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Tai Chi Movement Class for Cancer Recovery is a free class specifically for cancer
patients.