Resources
Support you Can Count on Through Your Journey
Treating the disease is only a small part of cancer care. This disease can take a toll on the mental and emotional energy of the patient and their families. Likewise, managing life during the intensive treatments can seem overwhelming. The West Jefferson Medical Center is here to help with all of your family’s needs when someone in your family has been diagnosed with cancer.
Social workers
The oncology social workers at West Jefferson Medical Center provide counseling and support services to help patients and their families reduce stress as they move through the journey through treatment. One of our social workers will serve as your point of contact whenever you need a referral to community resources that can help you during this difficult time. They will also be in charge of planning your discharge.
Our social workers can help you:
- Apply for financial assistance
- Refer you to community resources
- Learn more about social security and disability benefits
- Understand what your insurance covers
- Cope with your illness and the emotional toll it can take
- Access information that will help you better understand your diagnosis and treatment
Anyone who learns they have cancer is going to go through a range of emotions,
and it can be easy to fall into depression if you are left alone with
your thoughts. We offer counseling for patients and their family members
so that you can have an opportunity to speak with someone who is outside
of the situation but still familiar with how cancer affects people.
We frequently recommend patients join support groups and educational programs
so that they can discuss their journey in a group setting with others
who can relate to their experiences. As a longtime healthcare provider
in the community, we can also provide referrals to community counseling
that may be helpful.
Everyone knows cancer is serious. While this makes people empathetic to
your situation, it can also change the way they interact with you. Now
is a time when you need your friends and families. Our social workers
can give you advice on how to talk with your family, friends, and co-workers
in order to help them understand what you need from them.
Some of the things we can teach you about include:
- Discussing your condition with your children and family
- Coping with anxiety and depression
- Relaxation techniques to deal with stress
- How treatment might impact your day to day life
- The effect cancer can have on sex, intimacy, and your self-image
- Alternative medicine that can complement your regular treatment
- Clinical trials
- Advance directives
- Life after cancer treatment as a survivor
For more information call us at 504.349.6763. A member of our team will be happy to answer your questions and help you figure out what you need.
Patient Navigator Program
Your guide through cancer care at West Jefferson Medical Center
The healthcare system can seem overwhelming, particularly when you have cancer and will likely need to meet with numerous medical professionals in various departments. With the strain cancer puts on a patient’s personal life, they may find themselves too distracted to keep track of all the care they need. This is where West Jefferson Medical Center’s patient navigators can help.
Our patient navigator works one-on-one with patients to help you organize your medical care and overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent you from receiving the care you need.
What can my patient navigator help me with?As the title implies, a patient navigator’s role is to help you “navigate” the healthcare system. Very few people are ever prepared for a cancer diagnosis, so they are always prepared for the financial toll this will take on their lives, as well as the time they will have to take off work in order to receive treatment and recover. Patient navigators are here to ensure nothing stands in the way of your needed treatment.
A patient navigator can help you:
- Find financial aid
- Schedule and keep track of appointments
- Communicate with medical professionals when you need them
- Complete insurance paperwork
- Connect with community resources, including support groups and healthcare education
- Direct you to departments that can help with the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of cancer
Patient navigators have proven to be valuable for both patients and physicians. Working with a patient navigator leads to better patient preparedness, improved collaboration between your care team, and more efficient use of clinical services.
For more information, call our oncology nurse navigator at 504.349.2104.
