Newswise — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) gives patients direct, expedited access to diagnostic testing for cancer.
The goal, says Chief Medical Officer David Cohn, MD, MBA, is to provide immediate community-wide patient access to cancer providers for anyone with a suspected cancer, especially in communities where access to healthcare is limited and has become even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The James Cancer Diagnostic Center offers a platform for expert evaluation and access to the appropriate diagnostic testing so that a cancer diagnosis can be made in a timely and precise manner, in a low-risk environment. Center visits can be virtual or in-person based on the patient’s preference.
Launched on June 15, the Cancer Diagnostic Center is open daily and staffed by a team of advanced practice professionals and nurses who have expertise in oncology. The team is overseen by physicians with oncology experience and expertise. The center is available for both self- or physician-referral. Center staff first identify and prioritize patient needs and concerns and then coordinate appropriate testing and evaluation on behalf of the patient at facilities within The James and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Follow-up care is also coordinated with a specialized, multidisciplinary team at The James if a cancer diagnosis is made.
“COVID-19 has limited and changed access to health care across the country and the world.
Having timely access to providers is a very real concern. We want to ensure that anyone with a suspected cancer can get a timely, accurate diagnosis so potentially life-saving care is not delayed unnecessarily,” says Cohn, who is also a gynecologic oncologist at the OSUCCC – James.
“Navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment can be stressful enough during ‘normal’ times – adding the uncertainty and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to make it truly overwhelming. We want the community to know we are here to help, and patients should feel safe turning to us for testing and cancer care. That starts with being connected to the right experts and the right tests to get answers to guide treatment.”
To connect with the Cancer Diagnostic Center or schedule another appointment, call The James Line at 614-293-5066.
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About the OSUCCC – James
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute strives to create a cancer-free world by integrating scientific research with excellence in education and patient-centered care, a strategy that leads to better methods of prevention, detection and treatment. Ohio State is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only a few centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs sponsored by the NCI. As the cancer program’s 356-bed adult patient-care component, The James is one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has achieved Magnet® designation, the highest honor an organization can receive for quality patient care and professional nursing practice. With 21 floors and more than 1.1 million square feet, The James is a transformational facility that fosters collaboration and integration of cancer research and clinical cancer care.
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