History
The Medical Oncology Centre is located in the “Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria”, Viale Tristano di Joannuccio 1, part of the Italian National Health System. The Oncology Division was re-organised in 2008, when the two pre-existing, in- and out-patient Units were unified to start a collaborating for a better “global-care” of cancer patients.
At present, the Unit (Chief: Dr. Sergio Bracarda) consists of a Ward for Inpatients and an Ambulatory/Day Hospital Section for Outpatients. The Unit is part of the Department of Oncology with the Units of Radiotherapy- Oncology, Onco-Ematology and Pathology (with the enclosed Laboratory of Molecular Biology) and also collaborates closely with the Home-Care service and the City Hospice.
Profile
Medical Oncology Unit, includes:
- A dedicated ward with twelve beds for Inpatients
- An Ambulatory section with 10 places (with one place dedicated mainly to psychological and nutritional activities)
- A specific Ambulatory for Nurse activities
- A Day-Hospital Section with 16 Armchairs for i.v. therapy and support and three beds for over-day hospitalisation
- A Phase 1, Clinical Trial Centre.
- 11 Medical Oncologists (dedicated to specific area of multidisciplinary interest and supportive or palliative care)
- 1 Nurse Coordinator, 16 Nurses and 9 Health Operators, 3 Reception Operators. 1 Secretary Operator.
- Clinical Research Centre Staff: 2 Study Coordinators, 2 Data Managers, 1 Case Manager.
- Psycho-oncology, Nutritional and Genetic Counseling activities.
Radiation-Oncology Unit (Chief: Dr Fabio Trippa)
Onco-Ematology Unit (Temporary Chief: Angelo Genua)
Pathology Unit & Molecular-Biology Lab (Chief: Stefano Ascani)
Upon arrival, patients are offered a variety of information and services to facilitate easy access to the Centre activities. For example, blood tests may be easily done daily within the Unit according to planned timelines, patients may book immediately planned imaging and instrumental examinations and future medical therapy sessions and counselling or follow-up visits.
For those patients who wish you partake, periodical meetings are offered with hair and beauty specialists for advice about hair and make-up to improve their self-confidence and esteem in the perspective of true global care.
The Unit collaborates with Home-Care services (including physicians, nurses, and physiotherapist), the local City Hospice (including nine rooms) and the territorial health service.
Specialties
The Centre is a Medical Oncology Unit with a well known and international recognized experience in the treatment of solid tumours, including genitourinary, gastrointestinal, breast, gynaecological, brain and lung cancers, with classical chemotherapy and new immunotherapy agents and combinations, target therapies and hormone-therapies. The entire staff is interested in the multidisciplinary care of solid tumors, with large part also involved in the research area.
Our Centre is involved in several International and National Clinical Trials with a leading activity also in innovative study proposals. We are also interested in the area of research of supportive and palliative care and quality of life, with a special interest for simultaneous care programs, creating a good connection between the hospital and the patient’s home care.
Palliative and Supportive Care
At present, there is not a dedicated (formal) palliative care service inside the Department of Oncology, however, all staff firmly believe that the patient needs are not only towards the specific cancer care, but also to the physical symptoms alongside emotional, social, and spiritual issues. Our philosophy of care is “global care”.
The medical staff meets periodically with nurses and palliative care specialists and radiotherapists to discuss clinical cases and care pathways.
Last update: January 2023
