Nursing Director
Catherine M. Mannix, RN,
BSN, OCN
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PROFILE
The Department of Radiation Oncology offers
a variety of state of the art radiation treatment to cancer patients.
These treatment options include external beam; 3-D conformal, Intensity Modulated Radiation therapy (IMRT), and image guided treatment. The brachytherapy program consists of low dose rate and High Does Rate (HDR). Intraoperative radiation treatment (IORT) is available. The Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center is currently one of three proton treatment centers in the country. |
PATIENT CARE DELIVERY MODEL
The Radiation Oncology staff is committed to providing safe, comprehensive patient focused care using a team approach. This team includes nurses, physicians, radiation therapists and physicists, collaborating in multi-diciplinary manner. Multi-modality care is coordinated with our Cancer Center colleagues in Medical and Surgical Oncology, in addition to Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.
TEAM MEMBERS
Primary nursing is practiced and supports
the goal of delivering the highest level of quality patient care in
an environment conducive to professional practice. Radiation therapists
deliver daily treatment in a manner that reflects a commitment to
providing complex treatment in a safe, competent and compassionate
manner. The support staff consists of nursing assistant, patient care
service coordinators and managed care coordinators.
SCHEDULING PRACTICES
Normal working hours are Monday through
Friday from 7:00 - 6:00. Radiation therapists provide "on-call"
treatment to those patients who require emergency care outside the
usual treatment hours.
STAFF ORIENTATION
All staff attends the hospital and Cancer Center orientation program.
Nursing staff attends the one-week nursing orientation program.
Unit specific orientation is individualized according to job role
and determined by the supervisor.
EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Staff education and development is supported
by The Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical & Professional Development. The Department of Radiation Oncology
offers a teaching environment specific to the needs of our oncology
patients. Staff has daily opportunities to discuss patients and
treatment related issues with members of the physician and physics
staff and attend radiation specific conferences. The radiation therapists
offer an annual educational program related to the latest concepts,
technologies, radiation safety and quality assurance in radiation
oncology that is open to all staff. Nurses are encouraged to attend oncology-related conferences,
Nursing Grand Rounds and Cancer Center multi-disciplinary conferences. Nurses participate in Collaborative
Governance on various committees. Staff nurses are encouraged to advance their
clinical practice and demonstrate proficiency through the Clinical
Recognition Program.
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