Our entire cancer-care team is available to provide emotional support during the course of each patient’s treatment. Specially trained oncology nurses, dietitians and social workers work with our physicians to assist our patients through recovery and healing.
We're committed to providing patients with the information and support they need to make informed decisions that increase their chances of living long, productive lives. Our patient-centered services promote education, early detection and positive outcomes.
Oncology Nurse Navigator
A specially trained registered nurse serves as an oncology nurse navigator and is available to patients and their families as a primary contact throughout a patient’s cancer diagnosis and course of treatment. Since a diagnosis of cancer is often overwhelming, the oncology nurse navigator helps to simplify the maze of cancer services required. Services provided by the navigator include:
- Navigating patients through the entire medical experience, including diagnosis, treatment plan, appointments, billing, and all tests and procedures
- Coordinating patient care to ensure that tests and procedures are conveniently scheduled
- Facilitating referrals to surgeons and other cancer specialists
- Explaining lab and test results
- Offering patients one-on-one informational instruction about cancer, definitions of treatment and information about cancer services available at their hospital and throughout the Memorial Hermann System
- Providing educational materials on cancer, which helps to empower patients throughout the treatment process
- Serving as a contact once the patient is home
By looking after the best interests of the patient, the oncology nurse navigator makes the patient’s transition from diagnosis to treatment smoother and simpler.
Our oncology nurse navigators include:
Memorial City: Bernie Hoffman, RN
Southwest: Diane Gilbert, RN
Texas Medical Center: Gayle Hatch, RN (inpatient)
Texas Medical Center: Sonja Thomas, RN (outpatient)
The Woodlands: Carol Lewis, RN
Cancer Exercise Specialist
Current research has shown that engaging in moderate exercise can decrease the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Exercise can also increase strength, energy and determination during the length of the cancer journey.
Robert Reed, CTP, CES, is a cancer exercise specialist at the Memorial Hermann/HBU Wellness Center and can be reached at 713-448-WELL or by e-mail.
Tumor Boards
A multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists meets weekly to plan and discuss the specifics of care delivered to individual patients. Patient progress is reviewed each week, and treatment options are discussed to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient. In effect, these planning boards provide our patients with second and third opinions on their treatment. In addition, cancer registries track cases diagnosed and treated to evaluate and facilitate improved quality of care and patient outcomes.
Cancer Registry
Our cancer registry tracks cases diagnosed and treated at each Memorial Hermann campus to evaluate and facilitate improved quality of care and patient outcomes.
Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
Memorial Hermann recognizes that superior care involves treating the whole patient - body, mind and spirit. Upon request, professional chaplains are available at each hospital to offer both emotional and spiritual support to cancer patients and their families.
As an emotional and spiritual resource, hospital chaplains understand the personal concerns of cancer patients and help patients cope with the emotional stresses they are experiencing. Chaplaincy services include listening to patients, answering questions and offering short-term counseling, scripture and prayer, as requested. These services provide comfort to patients and their families during a difficult time.
Genetic Counseling and Testing
Memorial Hermann offers cancer risk assessments, genetic testing, education and counseling for individuals at high risk for hereditary cancers such as breast, ovarian, colorectal and endometrial cancers.
Lymphedema/Hyperbaric Medicine Services
Lymphedema is a chronic condition characterized by swelling of the patient’s extremities due to abnormal accumulation of lymph fluids. The lymphedema management program offers noninvasive therapies to help patients reduce limb swelling, maximize limb function and maintain limb health. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center offers the only comprehensive lymphedema management program in Houston.
Hyperbaric Medicine is a treatment modality that uses oxygen under pressure to achieve different physiological responses. It is currently used in the treatment of some complications from radiation therapy such as prophylaxis or treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, hemorrhagic cystitis or other late effects of radiation to soft tissues including non healing wounds or prior to surgical reconstruction of irradiated tissue. Learn more.
Palliative Care
Palliative care is active total care for patients with serious illness. Care is provided for patients and families by an interdisciplinary team working collaboratively with the patient’s attending physician, who focuses on pain and symptom control, management of psychosocial and spiritual issues and grief/bereavement support. Palliative care is provided with other appropriate medical care and is not reserved only for patients at end of life. The goal of palliative care is to help the patient achieve the best possible quality of life.
Advanced Practice Nurse
Memorial Hermann’s Advanced Practice Nurse plays an important role in improving the inpatient treatment experience. With a master’s-level degree in clinical oncology and national certification in the field, the Advanced Practice Nurse helps cancer patients admitted to Memorial Hermann hospitals in many ways:
- Provides direct patient care, including chemotherapy administration, helping to ensure that a patient’s treatment plan is clear to nurses
- Serves as a resource for nurses and physicians regarding advanced oncology nursing knowledge, including the evaluation of specific care delivery needs for patients
- Implements consistent chemotherapy administration policies and procedures for nurses across the hospital system, providing a patient experience consistent with national standards
- Educates patients on cancer treatments and symptom management, as requested
- Provides nurses with continuing oncology education, including chemotherapy certification classes
- Promotes new program development and improvement opportunities, including the integration of the latest clinical capabilities that may benefit cancer patients at Memorial Hermann
The Advanced Practice Nurse in oncology, unavailable at many other institutions, is another important reason to choose Memorial Hermann for cancer treatment.
Psychosocial Assessment, Counseling and Support
Experienced oncology social workers are available to help patients with lifestyle changes, discharge planning and referrals to support groups and community agencies. Throughout its network of hospitals, Memorial Hermann offers support groups for breast cancer support groups, prostate cancer support groups and others for cancer patients.
Other Patient Services
Memorial Hermann is committed to enhancing our patients’ quality of life through services, such as wellness programs, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation classes, dance and exercise therapy and on-site rehabilitation services. Our Wellness Center offers a variety of programs to help promote healing. To register for a class, please call 713-222-CARE (2273). English- and Spanish-speaking representatives are available seven days a week to help you.
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