In some respects, it seems like the world has stopped. Unfortunately, cancer does not stop; and so the team at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper continues its vital work in caring for our patients.
While we have adopted new practices and procedures to reduce the risk you face in contracting COVID-19, much of what we do has remained unchanged.
We continue to provide chemo and radiation treatments uninterrupted. We also continue to see newly diagnosed patients, patients for follow-up visits, and patients from other health systems for second opinion consultations.
Our physicians, nurses and staff are here for you, our doors are open, and we are providing the services that are available under normal circumstances. Cancer is relentless, but so are we.
Here are a few of the steps we have taken to adapt our practices while continuing to provide care for you:
- We are making telemedicine appointments available. Those who have had telemedicine appointments have had a positive experience and have told us it was a great way to connect with their provider.
- We have instituted a multi-level COVID-19 screening process for our patients. Our team members are calling patients the day before their appointment to screen for COVID-19 symptoms and we are also conducting screenings at the entrances to our buildings.
- We have established a triage program to evaluate patients who may have been exposed to COVID-19, or who are experiencing symptoms of the virus, to determine the most appropriate next steps.
- Some of our team members, including our dietitians, nurse navigators, and other supportive care services staff, are working remotely and connecting with patients by phone to reduce the risk of exposure.
- While we have adopted a no-visitor policy in all of our facilities for your safety, we are encouraging our patients to bring smart devices (phones, iPads, computers) to stay connected with their loved ones during their treatments.
- In-person events and support groups have been postponed through the end of May, but we hope to resume these activities in the summer. We will soon be offering informative webinars led by our cancer experts and experts from across Cooper University Health Care. Look for notices about these offerings in future emails.
- Later this month, the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine Program will also begin offering much-needed wellness and self-care therapies online and over the phone – so you can benefit from these services from the comfort and safety of your living room. Stay tuned for more information about these programs.
Our call center team is available to make appointments, connect you with our clinical team, and answer your questions. Please do not hesitate to call us at 855.632.2667. For more information on other services you may need at Cooper, don’t put your health on hold. Click here to learn more about how we’re keeping you safe.
With Family and Friends Along Side of Her, Francisca Martinez Rings the Bell - Inside Cooper
[…] MD Anderson at Cooper continues to provide essential cancer treatments to our patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be a challenge for patients not to have family members or friends with them during appointments and treatments to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially when there’s a reason to celebrate. […]