Florida Hospital Cancer Institute News and Events
New Florida Hospital Flagler Cancer Institute Director
PALM COAST – Duane Price, RN, is the new Florida Hospital Flagler Cancer Institute Director. Price, an Ormond Beach resident, was formerly the Director of Clinical Effectiveness at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center and responsible for directing the Education, Infection Control, Performance Improvement, Risk Management, and Accreditation Compliance departments.
In his new role Price will be responsible for the overall administrative and operational management of the Florida Hospital Flagler Cancer Institute. This will include directing the daily operations of Radiation Oncology, the Cancer Library & Resource Center, Cancer Registry, Care Coordination, and Research. In addition, Price will collaborate with the physicians associated with the Cancer Institute, including Radiation Oncologists, Medical Oncologists, and Surgeons, to develop and implement strategic plans for the continued growth and improvement of cancer care at Florida Hospital Flagler.
Price has been a Registered Nurse for 35 years and has a Master of Science in Nursing. Prior to his roles at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center and Florida Hospital Flagler, Price was employed in hospitals in the Carolinas and Pennsylvania in a variety of positions including a critical care nurse, family nurse practitioner, nursing director, case management director, and risk/quality director.
About Florida Hospital Flagler
Florida Hospital Flagler is a non-profit organization that operates under a Christian mission of hope, health and healing. The hospital is a member of Adventist Health System, Inc., which currently operates 37 hospitals within ten states. Within the past six years, Florida Hospital Flagler has invested more than $120 million in Flagler County's healthcare, both in the facility and state-of-the-art equipment, enhancing the level of care patients receive at the facility. Florida Hospital Flagler has grown with the community and now has 99 licensed beds, with the capacity to license 16 additional beds. This 320,000 square-foot facility employs more than 800 people, of which nearly 75 percent live in Flagler County. For more information, please call (386) 586-2000 or visit
www.FloridaHospitalFlagler.com
.
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CALENDAR LISTING
Florida Hospital Flagler Cancer Institute’s
Judith C. Macko Cancer Resource Library Open House
WHAT:
Please join Florida Hospital Flagler on Sunday, February 21 for an open house and tour of the Judith C. Macko Cancer Resource Library. For more information, please call toll-free 866-399-3859.
BACKGROUND: As part of the Florida Hospital Flagler Cancer Institute, the Judith C. Macko Cancer Resource Library will offer an extensive collection of books, brochures, articles and videotapes about cancer. Cancer patients and their families, and community members, such as health professionals, students, and teachers will be welcome to use all of the library's free services.
WHERE:
Florida Hospital Flagler
Judith C. Macko Cancer Resource Library
60 Memorial Medical Parkway
Palm Coast, FL 32164
WHEN:
Sunday, February 21 at 2PM
RSVP:
To RSVP, please call toll-free (866) 399-3859.
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For More Information:
Michelle Lynch, 386.615.4282
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Breakthrough Treatment For Abdominal Cancers Performed
At Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center
December 16, 2009 (Daytona Beach, FL) --- A 57-year-old Port Orange man, who was recently diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, is the first patient in Central Florida to undergo a new treatment for abdominal cancers. Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, also called HIPEC (pronounced high peck), was performed by Christopher Windham, a surgical oncologist with Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
“By treating complex abdominal cancers with HIPEC, we’re able to offer our patients a better opportunity for a positive outcome that improves their prognosis and quality of life,” said Windham.
Frequently heralded as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, the innovative procedure provides a “one-two punch” to slow or prevent the recurrence of certain types of cancers. Immediately after the removal of malignant abdominal tumors, a heated chemotherapy solution circulates through a patient’s abdomen to penetrate tissue and kill microscopic cancerous cells that may lurk behind. After 90 minutes, the solution is removed and the incision is closed.
Bathing the abdomen with heated chemotherapy immediately following surgery allows for higher doses of chemotherapy than would normally be tolerated by a patient if given intravenously, which is the traditional way chemotherapy is administered.
Heated chemotherapy provides three advantages:
• heated to 42 degrees Celsius, sterile chemotherapy kills cancerous cells but does not affect normal cells;
• heat makes the killing effect of chemotherapy more powerful;
• heat softens tumor nodules so the chemotherapy’s penetration is enhanced.
HIPEC also improves drug absorption with minimal exposure to the rest of the body, avoiding the normal side effects of chemotherapy. The procedure is most effective with cancers that have spread to the surface of the abdominal cavity lining, such as colorectal cancer, appendiceal cancer, stomach cancer, or cancers from mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Clinical studies show HIPEC is significantly more effective than surgery alone and offers patients an improved prognosis and quality of life. Five-year data has shown that patients who undergo HIPEC live longer and have a better quality of life. The HIPEC technology is produced by ThermaSolutions.
About Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center consists of two campuses, a 277-bed hospital in Daytona Beach and a 119-bed hospital in Ormond Beach. Our specialties include cardiology, emergency medicine, hospice, home health, imaging, laboratory, oncology, obstetrics, neurology, physician practices, rehabilitation and women’s services. In July 2009, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center opened as the replacement facility for Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial, which had served the community for more than 42 years. Future plans include a 30,000-square-foot replacement facility for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center's Cancer Institute, an onsite wellness center, fitness and walking trails and a child care center.
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Florida Hospital DeLand Director Receives Certification
DeLand, Fla., November 4, 2009 – Florida Hospital DeLand Imaging Director, Wes Harden, is now a Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA).
The CRA is the only professional credential tailored specifically for radiology administrators. The program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and recognize administrators who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practice of radiology management.
To sit for the examination, candidates are required to meet experience, education, and other credentialing requirements. The certification exam tests knowledge in five domain areas: human resource management, asset resource management, fiscal management, operations management, and communications and information management. The exam consists of questions based on these five management domains.
Having CRA certification recognizes that an individual is not simply high performing but excels in these areas. Certification is an independent verification of the professional’s skill set.
The CRA program, including the examination, is managed by the Radiology Administration Certification Commission (RACC), a self-governing body created to maintain the credentials’ integrity and relevance.
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Hematologist/Oncologist Joins Florida Hospital DeLand
DeLand, Fla., October 27, 2009 - Atis Barzdins, MD has joined the medical staff of Florida Hospital DeLand and Advanced Hematology and Oncology Centers.
Previously, Dr. Barzdins was practicing hematology-oncology in a busy community based practice in Ocala and The Villages.
Dr. Barzdins brings to the DeLand community his broad knowledge and hands-on practical experience in hematology and oncology. He strongly views his role as “a provider of individualized care customized to the specific needs of his patients, incorporating their personal values as well as emotional and practical aspects in dealing with the challenges associated with their medical conditions.”
He is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology.
Dr. Barzdins comes from Eastern Europe. He received his Medical Degree from the Medical Academy of Latvia, where he also completed his medical residency during which he passed the United States Medical Licensing Exams before coming to the United States. After his Internal Medicine residency at NYU Downtown Hospital, he continued his training in New York City where he completed his hematology-oncology fellowship at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center. After his fellowship, he started practicing in Durango, Colorado.
Aside from the direct professional responsibilities, Dr. Barzdins has acted as volunteer educational lecturer for cancer patient support groups. He has also contributed to continued medical education on cancer related topics and has acted as a faculty presenter in a primary care update course organized by Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Mercy Medical Center in Durango, Colorado.
Dr. Barzdins research activities include a publication of analysis of a novel chemotherapy regimen in treatment of refractory pancreatic cancer, as well as patient accrual for cooperative group trials.
The Advanced Hematology and Oncology Centers is located at 680 Peachwood Drive, DeLand, 32720. For appointments, the office may be reached at 386-470-2424.
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American Cancer Society’s East Central Coastal Unit Awards the “Business of the Year”
On Monday, August 10, the American Cancer Society’s East Central Coastal Unit awarded the “Business of the Year” to Florida Hospital DeLand, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, and Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. These Florida Hospitals made significant contributions to the American Cancer Society throughout the year, in addition to a $60,000 donation.
“Corporate involvement is essential to our fight against cancer,” said Dr. Bev Grissom, American Cancer Society’s East Central Coastal Unit Operating Board Chair. “While all of our corporate partners mean a great deal to us, there is one business this year that stood out from all the rest. Florida Hospital DeLand, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, and Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center are educational partners, and through their sponsorship and the generous individual donations of their employees, they are personally responsible for raising well over $60,000 this year for the fight against cancer.”
Grissom went on to say that Florida Hospital’s involvement with the American Cancer Society proves that their own mission statement of “The Skill to Heal, The Spirit to Care” is more than just words, but rather a belief that they practice whole heartedly.
The East Central Coastal Unit of the American Cancer Society covers all of Volusia County except New Smyrna Beach. The award is selected by a committee who reviews the all of the businesses in Volusia County (excluding New Smyrna Beach) who supported the American Cancer Society. The businesses are evaluated based on their mission of promoting health, coupled with their strong stance in cancer prevention and treatment.
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Florida Hospital Fish Memorial Employee to Serve as Director-at-Large for Florida Division of the American Cancer Society
ORANGE CITY, FLORIDA, September 25, 2009 – A Florida Hospital Fish Memorial (FHFM) staff member has been appointed as Director-at-Large for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Florida Division Board of Directors. Diana DePaolo, M.S.W., works as a patient care liaison and oncology social worker at FHFM’s Cancer Institute in Orange City. Ms. DePaolo will serve during the Board’s fiscal year, September 1, 2009–August 31, 2010.
A nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization, ACS is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. The ACS mission of prevention, saving lives and diminishing suffering is accomplished through research, education, advocacy and service.
At Fish Memorial, Diana DePaolo provides support to cancer patients and their families to help them deal with the impact of the disease on their lives. She helps patients understand medical information, evaluate treatment options, cope with emotional issues, apply for financial assistance and arrange transportation.
Ms. DePaolo has served on the ACS East Central Coastal Unit Operating Board for 10 years and is the current Cancer Control Committee Chair. In addition to these duties and her Director-at-Large appointment, she is a member of the Cancer Control Committee for the State Board.
Speaking of her aspirations for the new role, she comments, “My goal is to utilize my skills as an oncology social worker to assist the American Cancer Society in meeting their mission and to ensure that ACS national policies are implemented on the state level. I will support best practice guidelines and help channel information from the State Board to the local unit.”
According to the current ACS Division Board Director-at-Large, Beverly
McMurtry Grissom, Ed.D., several qualifications factored into DePaolo’s appointment. “She’s highly knowledgeable. When called upon, she contributes 100 percent. She got Dr. Crisostomo—the best medical advisor I’ve worked with—to join our Board. And she has a passion for finding a cure.”
Dr. Grissom feels that DePaolo’s face-to-face work with patients will have a positive influence on the national level. “As a result of people working at the grassroots level, the national boards learn what directions to pursue and what is most useful for patients,” she explains, adding, “I’m very proud that, from all over the State, including much larger markets such as Miami and St. Petersburg, three people from the East Central Coastal Unit were chosen to serve on the State Board.”
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