Palliative Care Team

Palliative care medicine is interdisciplinary, which means that different medical professionals, or specialists, work together as a team to provide the best care for each patient.

Our team includes a variety of different health care practitioners who work together on a daily basis, to provide palliative care for our patients at Washington Cancer Institute.

Meet our palliative care team:

Palliative Care Doctors

Palliative care doctors are board-certified physicians trained to help patients and families manage the symptoms of cancer treatment. Expert symptom management can help improve your ability to participate in everyday activities.

Palliative care doctors will usually recommend a variety of healing techniques, including:

• Medical, including medicines to help pain and other side effects
• Spiritual counseling
• Social work services
• Nutrition guidance

Nurse Practitioner and Nurses

Palliative care nurses are trained to help manage symptoms for patients living with cancer. Nurses are helpful with symptom and pain management and can also provide comfort and care to family members. Our nurse practitioner will help with:

• Symptom and pain management
• Patient education
• Coordinating care with your oncologist and other providers
• Helping to arrange hospice services, when appropriate

Social Workers

Your palliative care specialist may recommend consulting with a social worker to help:

• Manage your stress
• Find resources to help you and your family while you are ill
• Manage the logistics of cancer care
• Receive emotional counseling and support

For example, you may be wondering how to:

• Get transportation to your medical appointments
• Talk to your family and boss about cancer
• Get insurance
• Locate home care
• Find financial help

Contact Chris Bianca, at 202-877-6290. Social work services are free for Washington Cancer Institute patients.

Chaplains

When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness, life changes in many ways. A crisis in the body often creates suffering in the mind and spirit as well. Whether or not you consider yourself a religious or spiritual person, everyone holds certain beliefs and values about what makes life meaningful or worthwhile. During a time of crisis, it is normal to question your beliefs, and to struggle to make sense out of what is happening to you. Chaplains provide a safe, non-judgmental environment to talk about your struggles.

How can I contact a chaplain or spiritual care provider? There are two ways for patients to contact Linda G. Fischer, the chaplain at Washington Cancer Institute:

• Your palliative care doctor may recommend that you meet Chaplain Fischer and will make the initial contact on your behalf
• You can call the chaplain directly, at 202-877-8577

What should I expect? Whatever your spiritual or religious beliefs and experiences, it is important to remember that spirituality is a part of your life that can be deepened and strengthened. Our chaplain will provide compassionate, non-judgmental support through your illness.

Where will I meet with the chaplain or spiritual care provider? Our chaplain is available to meet with you at your convenience. She may visit you in your hospital room, or you can meet privately in the chaplain’s office at Washington Cancer Institute. You can also pick any place that is convenient for both of you to speak privately.

Can my family members speak with the chaplain as well? Yes. A chaplain is available to talk to family members. Some patients prefer for their family members to be part of these conversations.

Contact Spiritual Care

Please contact Chaplain Linda G. Fischer directly at 202-877-8577. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Dietitians

The nutrition service at Washington Cancer Institute provides education and support, to make sure that patients receive excellent nutrition before, during and after treatments. We tailor meetings with dietitians to meet the specific needs of each patient. Our staff consists of cancer nutrition specialists, who are registered and licensed dietitians with experience in clinical and preventive oncology services.

To make an appointment with a dietitian at the Cancer Institute, please call Cindy at 202-877-3498, or Jocelyn at 202-877-3920.