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Cancer Program Medical Services
| Our Breast Program | The Infusion Center | Radiation Services |
While our cancer program addresses all forms of cancer, our emphasis is on the major adult solid malignancies: breast, colon, lung, and prostate. We offer comprehensive medical services for these conditions.
Our medical services are complemented by access to cutting-edge technology, including our new Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), digital mammography, breast MRI, and MRI-guided biopsy. These technologies are available at Suburban Hospital and play an important role in improving the effectiveness of cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Inpatient Services
Our 26-bed inpatient oncology unit cares for medical and surgical oncology patients and is staffed with nurses trained in oncology care and chemotherapy administration. The unit educator is certified by the oncology nursing society to assist with educational needs of both staff and patients. Other professionals available to patients are a dietician, pain management nurse practitioner, and a wound/ostomy/continence specialist. Suburban Hospital's program is unique in that social workers address the individual needs of our patients: the hospital social worker coordinates discharge planning needs while the clinical oncology social workers provide emotional support, counseling, and referrals to Cancer Program outpatient support services. (For further information, refer to Patient & Family Support Programs.)
Recently, our Oncology nursing staff was recognized by Advance Nursing Magazine as one of the Best Nursing Teams for 2007 in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia region.
Palliative care is designed for patients who have a chronic illness and may benefit from symptom management for respiratory distress, pain management, or nutritional support. A Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner works closely with the nursing staff, attending physician, social workers, and other ancillary services to improve the quality of life for the patient. Patients may also be interested in our Pain Management Services.
End of Life Care
Patients often seek comfort at the end of life, and the focus of care shifts to ensuring relief through nursing care, pain medications, supplemental oxygen, and family support. Stable patients can be transitioned to hospice, either at home or as an inpatient at facilities such as Casey House or Washington Home. Assistance through this process is offered by the nursing staff, social workers and palliative care services at Suburban Hospital. The staff strives to provide care that is culturally sensitive to ensure that all patients and families have the support they need.
Pain Management
Our Acute Pain Service, staffed with Anesthesiologists and a Pain Management Nurse Practitioner, is available to provide medications or advanced techniques to control pain that patients may experience. The Pain Service works in collaboration with the nursing and medical staff, patients and families. They can arrange for patient-controlled analgesia pumps for use at home. The overall goal of the service is provide optimal pain relief to ensure the best quality of life for the oncology patient at any point in the continuum of care.