New program helps cancer patients navigate health care system

Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis. Patients and their families must learn a lot of new information at once and they sometimes don’t know how to access important resources that are available to them. That’s why St. John’s created the Patient Resource Program at St. John’s Cancer Center. The program, free to all St. John’s cancer patients, employs a cancer resource nurse who educates patients and their families about their cancer diagnosis and provides access to resources and practical support. Oncologist Patrick Gomez, M.D., is the program’s medical director.
“Our program provides assistance so cancer patients and their families can focus on what is most important: healing and living the highest quality of life,” says Cancer Resource Nurse Brenda Monroe, RN, AOCN.
Monroe is a former oncology and chemotherapy nurse for St. John’s. She has also worked at the Breast Center and taught at St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University.
“Brenda has 20 years of experience in oncology, and she has advanced oncology nursing certification. She’s also very approachable,” Gomez says.
Monroe is available to assist patients and their family members in a variety of ways, from answering questions about the disease to helping them find the right support group to visiting cancer patients in the hospital.
“Hearing people share how this disease has changed their life is a constant reminder to me to focus on what’s important. It’s a real gift for me to work with cancer patients,” Monroe says.

What’s available

• Instruction for patients and family members about using St. John’s Oncology Resource Manual
• A “Navigating the Health Care System” class for patients and family members
• Liaison services for patients and health care professionals
• Educational resources for patients and family members
• Referrals to help patients obtain appropriate resources during the course of their treatment, which may include resources to meet a patient’s emotional, physical, financial and spiritual needs.

How do I access the Cancer Patient Resource Program?
Call Brenda Monroe, RN, AOCN, at 417-820-9397 or call St. John’s Cancer Center at 1-800-432-2273 and ask for the Patient Resource Program.