St. Vincent’s Medical Center SWIM Center for Cancer Care

St. Vincent’s SWIM Center for Cancer Care will house all oncology services under one roof beginning in January 2010. These services encompass the full spectrum of cancer care and include community outreach, screening and prevention, diagnostic services, surgical and medical oncology, radiation therapy, interventional oncology, clinical trials, dedicated inpatient and outpatient cancer units, palliative care, pain management, integrative oncology, support services, patient and provider education and survivorship.

A diagnosis of cancer can be the most frightening time in a person’s life. At St. Vincent’s, our team led by medical, radiation and surgical oncologists work collaboratively to determine which combination of individualized treatments and scheduling offers the most optimal results for the patient.

At St. Vincent’s, there are two areas where patients with cancer are managed and treated. On 7 East, our 20-bed inpatient medical oncology unit, patients receive treatments that can be given most effectively in the hospital. The second, the Ambulatory Infusion Center, will be housed on the third floor of the Cancer Center and includes an outdoor garden for patients to enjoy while receiving their treatment. Options for full or partial privacy are available. The Center will have its own entrance and will offer integrative oncology services, including a boutique, spa services, nutrition counseling, social work, financial counseling, a meditation area, support services and a survivorship program.

“Our multi-disciplinary approach offers patients a comprehensive care plan which includes experts in cancer care with the training, experience and skills in all areas of oncology,” said Kenneth Dressler, MD, division chief of medical oncology. “Now with the ability to provide total care under one roof, the patient experience will be enhanced dramatically.”

Revolutionary technology

The Medical Center has made a significant investment in the Novalis Tx Radiosurgery, a painless, non-invasive outpatient procedure for cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the entire body, and Varian Rapid Arc radiotherapy technology, a new form of image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that shapes the radiation dose so that it conforms closely to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor. Both represent a new standard in radiotherapy and radiosurgery, offering advanced technologies that deliver highly precise, fast treatment.

Digital Mobile Mammography Unit

At the SWIM Women’s Imaging Center, housed on the fourth floor of the Cancer Center, the team of medical professionals has just introduced its newest “partner” in its quest to bring the benefits of regular breast cancer screening to more residents of Connecticut. A sleek, spacious vehicle outfitted with state-of-the-art digital technology, St. Vincent’s new mobile mammography coach offers an attractive interior that provides privacy and is an example of the latest in mobile mammography.

The mobile unit and digital mammography equipment will travel and screen patients throughout the state. Organizations may schedule a screening location by calling 203-576-5505.

Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator

The Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator program was introduced at St. Vincent’s in June 2008 and is centered around surgical intervention for patients with breast cancer. Goals of the program include decreasing patient anxiety and expediting care for breast cancer patients. The Nurse Navigator is a unique role offered free of charge to SVMC breast cancer patients. Two registered nurses Betsy Rice and Maureen Pelletier serve in this role.