He a lt h
Sinai Hospital
News
SPRING 1995 ISSUE: ONCOLOGY
HealthNews Briefs Treating Cancer Patients
Reproductive Endocrinology
Comes to Sinai
Q inai Hospital has added
new reproductive tech-
nologies for the treatment of
infertility to its extensive
range of services in the
Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology. David M.
Magyar, D.O., Maria F. Hayes,
M.D., and Gary R. Jones, M.D.,
provide these high-tech interventions. In vitro
fertilization and gamete intrafallopian tube trans-
fer (GIFT) are just a few of the proc€ dares avail-
able to infertile couples who come for medical care.
Information and physician referral are available
by calling SinaiSource at 1-800-248-3627.
Critical Care
Transport Service
T
he Critical Care Transport Service is a
mobile intensive care unit. In its first year
of service, the CCTS provided service to over 300
patients. The service brings patients from their
home, physician's office or another hospital —
within a 30-mile radius — to Sinai for immedi-
ate diagnosis and treatment. The service, which
is licensed to operate in Wayne and Oakland coun-
ties, is intended for people who are critically ill.
Ask your doctor about the Sinai Critical Care
Transport Service or call 1 800 AMI 9486.
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Plastic Surgery Update
r
D reast cancer patients have options in plas-
tic surgery which were not available before.
Implants are no longer
the choice procedure
for a woman after a
mastectomy. Daniel
Sherbert, M.D., comes
to Sinai after an ex-
tensive fellowship in
breast reconstruction
at the premier center
for such surgery, St.
Joseph's Hospital in
Atlanta. Breast re-
construction can be
performed using a pa-
tient's own body tis-
sues to create a breast which is both natural and
lifelong. Hashim M. Alani, M.D., Section Chief
continues on page 3
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Is More Than a Science
T
he diagnosis of cancer
is overwhelming. Not
only is the patient dis-
tressed about the di-
agnosis and future prospects,
but he/she must also deal with
the hassles of a cumbersome
medical system of referrals, lab-
oratory tests, and going to un-
familiar specialists.Coordinating
appointments for all the differ-
ent specialists and tests is time
consuming and difficult.
The advances in cancer ther-
apy and the numerous treat-
ment options available can often
confuse an already frightened
and preoccupied patient.
Rather than going from spe-
cialist to specialist to collect a
variety of treatment plans,
a comprehensive individual
treatment plan can be recom-
mended by a team of experts
from the different fields of med-
icine. In these conferences, an
organ-specific panel of doctors
(the team) — which may include
medical and radiation oncolo-
gists, pathologists, diagnostic ra-
diologists, general surgeons,
plastic and reconstructive sur-
geons, oral and maxillofacial
surgeons, dentists, gynecologists
and gynecologic oncologists —
meets to design a recommend-
ed course of treatment for
r: the patient. Nurses and
4:,
C social workers who spe-
cialize in cancer care and
counseling may also at-
tend these team meetings.
Multi-disciplinary team-
work serves Sinai's pa-
tients at many Oncology/
Tumor Boards, including
Breast Cancer Conference,
Gynecology Tumor Board,
Head and Neck Tumor
Board, and Medical/Sur-
gical Tumor Board.
Medical oncologists who par-
ticipate in these tumor boards
.......r.r,,,,,o5
7 . .`
;
include Robert E. Bloom, M.D.,
Section Chief of Hematology and
Medical Oncology at Sinai Hos-
pital, Leopoldo Eisenberg, M.D.,
Lyle S. Goldman, M.D., Susan
E. Harold, M.D., Sherman A.
Kay, M.D., Gerald N. Loomus,
M.D., and Sharon Wolf, M.D.
comfortable about the process,
are actively involved in their
healthcare, and make the final
decisions as to which treatment
options will be used.
Oncology is a rapidly devel-
oping science and "we are all
students" according to Robert E.
Dr. Bloom believes that continuing education is crucial for maintaining Sinai's high standards
of healthcare.
After the team meets, their
recommendations are then dis-
cussed with the patient's pri-
mary care physician, either an
internist, family practitioner,
or gynecologist. A team repre-
sentative then explains the
treatment options to the patient,
including advantages and dis-
advantages of each component.
A cancer counselor may be in-
volved to address psychological
issues.
This team approach, with all
the specialists conferring, results
in a more informed patient who
is better equipped to make the
proper choice of treatment.
Informed patients feel more
Bloom, M.D. "It is an important
part of our job to keep on the cut-
ting edge of cancer therapy" Be-
sides keeping abreast of changes
in technology that affect cours-
es of cancer treatment, Sinai is
also attentive to improving the
ways that technology is provid-
ed to the patient. At Sinai, the
art of medicine is as important
as the science of medicine.
By improving communication
among healthcare providers and
communication with patients,
the effectiveness of the entire
system is advanced. At Sinai,
patients have a voice in their
healthcare.
S PECIAL ADVE RT ISE MENT
Sinai Health Services