Innovative Cancer Treatment Delivery AdvancesPatient Care (NAPSA)—It may seem surprising, but, on average, cancer patients spend less time with their oncologists than they do on a lunch break. The United States Department of Labor mandates that a lunch break be 30 minutes or more, yet according to the National Center for Health Statis- tics, the average time that cancer patients spend with their oncologist is just 24.5 minutes. However, an innovative ap- proach to cancer treatment by Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) called Patient Empowered Care may be changing all that. Patient Empowered Care uses a team approach, offering patients an average of between two and three hours with a full Empowerment Team every time they visit the hospital for treatment. The team includes a medical Cancer patients see a dedicated team of physicians and clinicians to fully understand their disease and treatment options at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. cancer treatment for almost 30 years with a fully integrated model of cancer care that focuses on what cancer patients value most. “Having cancer is overwhelming. I feel like the time spent with my care team helps me under- advance care through health liter- stand my disease and treatment options better, and I feel much more in control,” said CTCA patient Maria Watson. The physicians and clinicians at CTCA combine conventional clinical treatments and technologies for fighting cancer, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, with scientifically supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, oncology rehabilitation, pain management clinical team members for more responsive, personalized care. and maintain the immune system to improve each patient’s quality clear and thorough information and an understanding of their Staren. Learn More For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of America, visit www.cancercenter. com or call (888) 841-9129. For more information about Patient Cancer Treatment Centers of America has provided innovative cancercenter.com/patient-empow ered-care.cfm. oncologist, naturopathic oncology provider, registered dietitian, nurse care manager, clinic nurse and others—who come to the patient in one comfortable room, one right after another, for a focusedvisit. According to Edgar D. Staren, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., senior vice president for clinical affairs and chief medical officer at CTCA, Patient Empowered Care helps to acy—essentially, giving patients more time and greater accessto all “When patients are provided condition, they are empowered to make educated decisions about their cancer care,” added Dr. Where It Happens and spiritual support, which help mitigate side effects of treatment oflife. Empowered Care, visit www.
