Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) Oncology Clinic

Physicians

The oncology medical team at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) Oncology Clinic includes four medical oncologists and three general practitioners in oncology (GPOs). Medical oncologists are physicians with expertise in the diagnosis of cancer who specialize in using cancer medications to treat cancer. They are most responsible for determining the patient’s treatment plan, which includes prescribing the treatment, managing immediate and long-term side effects, and providing follow-up care. The medical oncologists work collaboratively with surgical specialists and radiation oncologists to identify the best cancer treatment plan for the patient.

GPOs are physicians who have become specialized in monitoring care once the treatment plan is established and treatment is underway. They assist the oncologists with monitoring patients and with follow-up care.

Oncology Nurse Patient and Staff Educator

The oncology nurse patient and staff educator is an experienced oncology nurse who provides education and support to patients and their families. This person also provides education to the nursing staff so they can obtain their certification in oncology. The oncology nurse patient and staff educator acts as clinical support and a consultant for nursing staff and other health care professionals.

Nurses

The nursing team in the DECRH Oncology Clinic is comprised of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The nurses are specially educated to provide care and support to people dealing with cancer and their families. RNs give the IV (intravenous) cancer medications. They will explain the possible side effects patients may experience and help patients learn how they can manage them. They assess how patients are doing throughout treatment and provide support and counseling to patients and their families. The cancer nursing team provides patients and their families with quality, compassionate nursing care.

Pharmacists

The oncology pharmacy team includes pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who specialize in cancer medications and cancer medication preparation. Both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play an integral role in optimizing patient outcomes with oncology treatments. Pharmacists inform patients if there are potential medication interactions with their cancer treatment and support them by answering their cancer medication questions. Pharmacy technicians prepare the cancer medications. Pharmacists confirm that patients receive the right medications in the right doses.

Dietitian

Cancer and/or its treatment can affect patients’ nutritional health. A registered dietitian from Horizon’s department of Nutrition and Food Services is available to help patients with their nutritional needs. The dietitian offers counselling not only to patients but also to their families. Making healthy food choices is especially important when going through cancer medication treatment for maintaining strength, immune function (to help fight infection), and increasing tolerance to cancer treatments.

Administrative Support Staff

The administrative support staff is present on the oncology unit to greet patients and their families when registering for appointments and treatments. They organize and prepare patients’ medical charts and documents to prepare and support the physician and other team members involved in a patient’s care. They book the patients appointments and treatments and receive incoming calls to the Oncology Clinic.

Adult Oncology Nurse Navigator

Having a cancer diagnosis turns a patient’s and their family’s world upside down. Cancer patient navigation is a process where a person with a suspicious finding or known cancer is guided through each step in the cancer care journey. The oncology nurse navigator (ONN) is a registered nurse with experience in oncology. This person’s job is to support patients and help them access services in the hospital and in the community. Click here to learn more.

Drug Access Navigator

The drug access navigator investigates and coordinates funding for a patient’s prescribed drug therapy, both treatment drugs and routine supportive drugs. They examine all possible options for funding, which takes some of the burden off patients by coordinating this part of their care.

Social Workers

Oncology social workers help patients cope with the practical and psychological challenges of the diagnosis and cancer treatment. They are there for the patient and their family. They provide support, assist with understanding and adapting to the changes in life, and answer questions that may arise about finances, insurance, employment, and discharge planning issues such as home care. The oncology social worker can also provide a listening ear and support for patients and their families. They are available to provide physical and emotional support.

Psychologists

Oncology psychologists help patients cope with their emotions during illness. They can help patients explore their feelings and teach them ways to improve their quality of life during and after treatment.

Spiritual and Religious Care Providers

Life is a journey of meaning and purpose, which are central to our existence. The journey of life is physical, mental, and spiritual. Sometimes this journey can be difficult, for example, hospitalization. The Spiritual Care department is here on site at the DECRH to let the patient know that none of us need to walk alone. The Spiritual Care team is able to help the patient and family face the future and find a place for healing and growth. Care is available to the patient and their family to support their spiritual wellbeing while in the hospital and during out-patient visits. They can help find resources that will nurture spiritual health. The team consists of professionally trained chaplains from the Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and United churches. Patients may ask one of the staff members to have one of our team members paged. Literature is also available. The Spiritual Care team is available to help the patient find resources that will nurture their spiritual health.

Volunteers

Our committed team of volunteers is present in the clinic to familiarize patients and their families with the Oncology Clinic, offer emotional support and companionship, and serve refreshments.

Clinical Trials Nurse

The DECRH Oncology Unit offers patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate health outcomes with new drugs or new ways of using known treatments. Taking part in a clinical trial is voluntary; the patient’s decision to participate will not impact the health care that they receive. Clinical trials can involve medications, laboratory testing, surgical procedures, devices, and/or preventative care. The goal is to provide patients with better outcomes and increased quality of life, in addition to contributing to the advancement of cancer therapies.

The role of the clinical trials nurse is to work with the clinic physicians to identify clinical trials that would best serve our patient population. The physician will identify patients that may be eligible for a trial, at which point the nurse will meet with them to review the consent form and answer any questions that they may have. If a patient chooses to enroll in a trial, the nurse becomes the single point of contact to organize their care and is available 24/7 if there are any concerns.

For more information about clinical trials, we recommend the patient talk with their nurse or physician.

 

Oncology services in Fredericton came into existence in 1989 with the arrival of oncologist Dr. Mike McLaughlin. Dr. John Dancey took his place one year later as the clinic’s pioneer oncologist and hematologist. In 1998, the DECRH Oncology Service moved into a newly renovated area originally called the Don Barrett Oncology Clinic, now known as the DECRH Oncology Clinic. The treatment area had twelve chairs and one bed. There were two private rooms, each with a bed. Today, the clinic continues to operate in the same space.

Our medical team is currently composed of four oncologists and three general practitioners in oncology (GPOs). The nursing team of five registered nurses has expanded to approximately 18 nurses, including two licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

The DECRH Oncology Clinic offers a very active cancer medication treatment and supportive care service. Services include cancer medication treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, cancer medication education, blood and blood product transfusions, specimen collection, pharmacy services, and psychosocial care.

Patients care throughout their cancer treatment experience involves a large team to ensure that they safely receive their cancer medication(s), that their side effects are managed quickly and effectively, and that they are treated with autonomy. Throughout the course of the patient’s cancer medication treatment(s), various team members will contribute to the patient’s care. The cancer care team includes physicians, registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), administrative support staff, a drug access navigator, a social worker, a psychologist, a dietitian, an oncology nurse educator, and the pharmacy team.