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medication, rheumatology infusions, iron and
hydration. Patients are screened before a consultation
appointment is given. Upon arrival,
they are required to complete a screening form
which is reviewed by a nurse. All patients and
employees must submit to temperature checks
and are required to wear a mask once inside
the building. Social distancing is practiced in
all waiting areas and chairs have been removed
when necessary to ensure that patients are always
sitting six feet apart.
Trinitas Regional Medical
Center, Trinitas
Comprehensive Cancer Center
By Barry S. Levinson, M.D.,
Medical Director
People who are actively undergoing
treatment for their cancer
continue to come to Trinitas Comprehensive
Cancer Center in spite of the pandemic.
Therefore, our responsibility is to ensure that
our patients are as safe as possible from the
moment they enter and throughout their stay
in the building. One major change we have
made is the use of videoconferencing for follow-up
appointments. We also teleconference
with our peers so we may continue discussing
the best ways to treat our patients. Each week,
our oncologists’ videoconference with their
colleagues throughout the state through the
Rutgers/Cancer Institute of New Jersey to discuss
best practices. Another change is we have
become very active in COVID-related clinical
research. For instance, we joined a study to
determine the effectiveness of the investigational
antiviral drug Remdesivir for emergency
use on critically ill patients on ventilators.
We launched a study involving stem cell therapy
just last week, and we are also participating
in a Mayo Clinic trial that is using plasma
from patients who have survived COVID. Yet
another study is looking at the effectiveness
of a drug typically used to treat rheumatoid
arthritis. It’s rewarding to use our robust expertise
in clinical trials to now help patients
with COVID.
Valley-Mount Sinai
Comprehensive Cancer Care
By Eleonora Teplinsky, M.D.,
Head, Breast Medical Oncology
The rapid spread of COVID-19,
the need to allocate the majority
of healthcare resources to fight
the pandemic, and the critical importance of
social distancing and self-quarantine to flatten
the curve resulted in a significant shift in the
treatment of patients with cancer. Each patient’s
treatment plan was individually assessed
by the healthcare team and care prioritized, adjusted
and optimized with the goal of balancing
the need and benefit of treatment with the
risks to the patient and potential adverse effects
that would require increased interaction with
the healthcare system. The majority of cancer
surgeries were postponed, patients’ imaging
tests were canceled, and most non-urgent visits
were converted to telemedicine visits. We are incredibly
grateful to our patients for taking these
changes in stride during this unprecedented
time of much fear and anxiety. Ultimately, this
adaptability and flexibility has allowed us to
continue to strive toward our most important
goal, which is always our patients’ well-being
and safety.
“ By working with NJIT, we were able to get
access to faculty with deep knowledge in areas
critical to our mission, and to the newest
equipment and techniques without having
to make large initial capital investments.
Most importantly, we gained early
access to future talent.
”
- Robert Cohen
CTO & VP of R&D at Stryker