It is the mission of Oncology Hematology Associates to bring state of the art treatments to patients and their families in a comfortable and caring environment. Treatments for cancers and blood disorders vary greatly. Many factors come into play such as the type of cancer, its stage and location, your general health, age, and history. After reviewing the benefits and risks for your options, you and your doctor will set a course together.
We provide the best treatment available while helping you continue your normal life and schedule as much as possible. Patient reactions to treatment may vary, so the best way to prepare is to be informed. We will address all your questions about side effects, treatment frequency, or medications. We’ll also talk about any possible impact on your normal work or life schedule.
Each treatment plan is unique. Our role, after thorough diagnosis and analysis of your particular situation, is to orchestrate the delivery of an agreed upon plan for you. We provide many treatment services in-house, while some, such as surgery and radiation therapy, are simply coordinated through our office.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the administration of strong medications effective in treating a particular type of cancer. Medications vary for each diagnosis and may be administered orally or injected into a muscle or vein subcutaneously.
On-Site Infusion Center
Many patients receive chemotherapy in the comfort of our unique, specially designed on-site infusion center. At OHA, we provide a comfortable, non-clinical living room area dedicated to chemotherapy treatment. Many of our nursing staff are Oncology Certified Nurses, OHA patients benefit from dedicated, highly skilled oncology nursing care. Our expert nurses administer the chemotherapy according to a treatment schedule prescribed by your physician. Safety procedures are in place to assure the chemotherapy is delivered as safely as possible.
At OHA, we adhere to Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines when administering all chemotherapy and biotherapy treatments.
Some chemotherapy treatments must be administered in a hospital setting where you may be required to stay overnight. This depends upon the type of cancer and the type of therapy prescribed by your physician. The length and frequency of chemotherapy also varies. Chemotherapy may be given daily, weekly, monthly, or in cycles that include rest periods. Your doctor will review your individual treatment plan and answer any questions. Every OHA treatment patient is offered education counseling and informational materials that help explain chemotherapy therapy.
Benefits of On-Site Infusion:
- Patient Safety Emphasis- Equipped with a response team to address possible adverse reactions during treatment
- Staffed with CPR-certified nurses
- Furnished with comfortable recliners to help enhance patient comfort during infusion
- Unique opportunity for patients to communicate and share stories
- Provides puzzles, books, games, and other things to do while receiving treatment
- Offers a family-friendly support environment, although children under 12 years of age are not allowed in the treatment area
- Conveniently open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
In-Clinic Lab Services
Many of your laboratory tests will be completed in our office by a phlebotomist via finger stick or intravenous stick. The convenience of completing your lab tests on-site allows for faster results, which speeds up your physician’s ability to make important decisions regarding your care. Our in-house laboratory also saves you multiple trips to separate locations. Everything we offer on-site is designed to ultimately improve patient care.
Clinical Trials
Some of our OHA patients have the option of participating in national clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and offered through Cancer Research for the Ozarks (CRO). In the Springfield region, treatment trials, prevention trials, and symptom management trials are offered through CRO.
OHA partners with Cancer Research of the Ozarks to offer you the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. New patients are screened by the CRO staff to identify patients who qualify and give them the information regarding participation. OHA collaborates with other top rated cancer centers around the country like MD Anderson, Barnes/Siteman, and Mayo Clinic to offer patients additional research opportunities.
If you are found eligible, your physician will discuss it with you during your office visit. If you participate in a clinical trial, you also receive standard therapy, or what you would normally receive without being on a clinical trial. Clinical trial patients also have the opportunity to receive an additional drug or treatment depending upon which part of the study you are enrolled.
Learn more about Cancer Research for the Ozarks by visiting their website www.ozarkcancerresearch.org. We encourage you to consider a clinical trial if you are found eligible.
Oral Medication Department
OHA provides a convenient, on-site physician dispensing oral medication department that offers a dispersion of specialty and adjuvant medications. Our department is comprised of a Registered Nurse and a Pharmacy Technician available to meet your needs and provide assistance in the following manner:
- Expedite the ordering process of specialty medications
- Provide financial counseling, including assistance obtaining co-pay grants and working with uninsured patients to receive medication from pharmaceutical companies
- Help with obtaining needed insurance company authorizations
- Provide medications ready for pick-up within 24-48 hours, and same-day in many cases
- Pre-treatment, one-on-one education with patients and their caregivers to ensure understanding and proper care of the medications being dispersed
- Specialty nurse available Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30am to take calls and answer questions
- OHA physician or nurse practitioner on-call 24/7 to assist with concerns
- Provide same-day office appointments to meet urgent matters and needs
Survivorship Program
As an adult cancer survivor, you should have a Survivorship Care Plan that summarizes treatment and outlines a plan for your follow-up care. This is an important communication resource for you to share with all your other health care providers.
Cancer and its treatment can result in potentially long-lasting or late-onset effects. The Survivorship Clinic addresses various problems cancer survivors may face after therapy ends, including pain, fatigue, fear of recurrence, living with uncertainty, neuropathy, lymphedema, bone loss, sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, memory issues, and future cancer risk.
In the survivorship program you will receive thorough screenings and health evaluations. You will meet with one of our specialized nurse practitioners care for patients as part of a team that includes your oncologist and primary care physician. They monitor you for recurrence of cancer as well as:
- Review your recent medical history and do physical examinations
- Identify and manage the effects of cancer and its treatment
- Provide counseling on healthy living habits such as diet and exercise
- Refer you for screening for other cancers
- Communicate with your primary care physician
We’ll also work with you to develop a Survivorship Care Plan that lists all of your therapy and medical information related to your diagnosis and possible late effects, and we’ll make recommendations for you and your healthcare providers to help ensure you’re informed and you stay as healthy as possible.
Financial Counseling
Patient Education
Other Medical Questions & Services
Prescriptions & Refills
As you prepare for each office visit, take time to make a list of all your medications. Notify your pharmacy when you need prescription refills with the exception of pain medications. We can not refill pain medications after hours or on weekends. You will need to contact our office 24 hours in advance for pain medication refills.