Medical Oncology
Medical oncology is an important part of any cancer patient's treatment. At Methodist, adult patients have access to some of the latest advances in treatment, including a formal pain management program and a nationally recognized plan of care.
Basic services include:
- Diagnostic evaluations
- Chemotherapy
- Blood transfusions
- Surgery
Pain management
Pain management is an important concern for cancer patients and their families. Consequently, Methodist has developed an aggressive pain management program that includes designating pain as the fifth vital sign. The designation means that the hospital's cancer unit staff monitors pain as regularly as they do temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and pulse. As part of the monitoring, they ask patients to rate the severity of their pain on a scale of 1-to-10, with 10 being the most severe. The staff can then work with patients' physicians to provide an appropriate level of pain control.
Plan of care
In the early 1990s, Methodist Medical Center created a program called CareTraxSM to ensure a higher standard of care. It provides for better patient/family education and helps patients receive excellent care and avoid delays while minimizing costs.
CareTrax brings together a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, technologists, physical therapists, pharmacists, discharge planners and others, as needed, to design a plan of care for patients with a particular medical condition. The result is a standard "map" of day-to-day care for those patients. Because every person is different, the plan is flexible, and a patient's doctor can easily change treatment when necessary.
Methodist has had a CareTrax plan for breast cancer patients since 1995. When a mammogram reveals a suspicious area, the patient undergoes a biopsy. If the diagnosis is cancer, a staff member introduces the patient to the doctors who will provide care, such as a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a surgeon, early in the treatment phase. The staff also provides information about breast cancer, along with options and support services; assists the patient through post-surgery follow-up; and makes referrals to Reach for Recovery, an international support network in which breast cancer survivors assist other women with breast cancer.
Comfort CareTrax, Methodist's nationally recognized plan of care for terminally ill patients, provides aggressive symptom management, emotional support, and spiritual assistance to those who want it. It also helps patients and their families deal with end-of-life care issues such as advanced directives and home versus institutional care. After a patient's death, staff members follow up with the family and provide assistance in getting bereavement counseling, as needed.
Staff education
To help the doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals stay abreast of current developments in medicine, Methodist sponsors weekly continuing medical education programs. Within the last year, programs have covered the latest advances in pain management and a wide range of cancer topics including lung, skin, breast, chest, uterus, thyroid, colon, vocal cords, and liver.
Medical oncologists
All of the medical oncologists on Methodist's medical staff are board certified, which means they have completed several years of additional training in their field after earning their medical degrees.
John Foust, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine, oncology, hematology, and hospice/palliative medicine. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, he also completed internal medicine and oncology/hematology residencies at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Foust is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is principal investigator for the SELECT prostate prevention clinical trial at Methodist.
Ronald H. Lands, M.D., received his medical training at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Memphis. He also completed an internal medicine residency and a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Lands is board certified in oncology, hematology, internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice/palliative medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.
Michael R. Thompson, M.D., is a board-certified oncologist and hematologist on the Methodist medical staff. He earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA, and completed an internal medicine residency at Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania and an oncology/hematology fellowship at the Health Science Center in Syracuse, N.Y. He also is board certified in internal medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Hematology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Helen Vodopick, M.D., is a graduate of the Marquette University School of Medicine in Milwaukee. She completed an internal medicine residency at the State University of Iowa Hospitals, a nuclear medicine residency at the Oak Ridge (TN) Institute of Nuclear Medicine, and hematology fellowships at the University of Iowa and the University of Utah. She is board certified in internal medicine, oncology and hematology. Dr. Vodopick is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Southern Medical Association and American Society of Ultrasound Medicine.
