L – R: Frank DelRossi, Lisa McLaughlin, Sara Goldstein and Leslie Tarr
MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper has four dedicated outpatient oncology social workers who help patients with psychosocial, emotional, financial, and other barrierr-to-care issues.
Our outpatient oncology social workers help patients in many ways from giving information on how those eligible can access transportation assistance, to providing materials to help parents discuss their cancer with children, to giving vital information about what patients going out on disability need to know.
On any given day, our outpatient oncology social workers may do any of the following:
- Provide emotional support to upset patients, both in person and over the phone.
- Arrange transportation for patients who qualify for assistance.
- Complete required paperwork for Medicaid programs.
- Provide paperwork and guide patients through the disability process.
- Refer patients to MD Anderson Cooper’s Behavioral Medicine program.
- Explain Advance Directives to patients.
- Educate patients and their families on the difference between hospice and palliative care.
- Refer patients to home hospice programs.
- Complete applications for financial assistance programs.
- Communicate patients’ concerns about their medical condition to the appropriate doctors and nurses.
- Provide Homelessness Prevention Program information.
- Advise patients on how to find a primary care physician.
- Arrange for patients to receive assistance with the cost of medications.
- Celebrate the end of treatment with patients.
This is just a snapshot of what outpatient oncology social workers do every day for patients at MD Anderson Cooper. Our social workers also facilitate support groups, network with other area social workers to get the latest information on what resources are available to patients, arrange home care with a doctor’s order, and a multitude of other things.
Patients with breast, digestive tract, brain, gynecologic, urinary, and unknown primary cancers work with Sara Goldstein in Camden and Leslie Tarr in Voorhees.
Patients with head and neck, lung, sarcoma, skin, and hematological cancers work with Lisa McLaughlin in Camden and Frank DelRossi in Voorhees.