Saint Joseph's multi-disciplinary team includes physicians, oncology-certified nurses, therapists, pharmacists, care managers, nutritionists, social worker, physician-led palliative care program, pastoral care team and many others. This highly-effective approach ensures all aspects of a patient’s care from diagnosis and treatment to care are coordinated and consistent.
Saint Joseph's Hospital also offers dedicated oncology-care units for patients requiring either a hospital stay or ambulatory care certified to provide chemotherapy along with any other care required by the patient. As well, each technologist, registrar, research associate, is fully prepared for his/her specific role on the care team.
Radiation oncologists
Saint Joseph's board-certified physicians oversee radiation therapy treatments and work with the other members of the multidisciplinary radiation therapy team to develop and prescribe treatment plans and ensure that each treatment is accurately given. Radiation oncologists also monitor progress and adjust the treatment as necessary for optimal care and help to identify and treat side effects that may occur during therapy. All Saint Joseph’s radiation oncologists are in the practice of radiation oncology.
Medical radiation physicists
Saint Joseph’s has two PhD medical physicists to deliver quality radiation treatment. They oversee the work of the dosimetrist and help ensure that complex treatments are properly tailored for each patient. Medical physicists also develop and direct quality control programs for equipment and procedures, as well as take precise measurements of the radiation beam and perform other safety tests on a regular basis. Saint Joseph's medical physicists are board certified in medical physics by the American Board of Radiology.
Dosimetrists
The medical dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology team who has knowledge of the overall characteristics and clinical relevance of radiation oncology treatment machines and equipment. The dosimetrist is knowledgeable of procedures commonly used in brachytherapy and has the education and expertise necessary to generate radiation dose distributions and dose calcuations in collaboration with the medical physicist and radiation oncologist.
Radiation therapists
Certified radiation therapists administer daily radiation treatments as per the radiation oncologist’s prescription and supervision, maintain daily records and regularly check the treatment machines to ensure they are working properly. They also monitor and report reported treatment side effects to the radiation oncologists and the department nursing staff.
Radiation oncology nurses
A valuable resource to patients and families, radiation oncology nurses assess patients throughout treatment and help cope with the side effects or changes they may be experiencing. Saint Joseph's nursing staff is available throughout the treatment course and follow-up period to help patients with any issues that may affect them and their family.
For more information about Saint Joseph’s Center for Cancer Care and Research, call 404-851-7117.
