Your Healthcare Team

Our Nursing Staff

Oncology Nurses at Elkhart General Hospital are Registered Nurses who have chosen to dedicate their careers to caring for cancer patients. All of our Registered Nurses have completed the Chemotherapy/Biotherapy and Radiation safety programs from the Oncology Nursing Society. In addition, some nurses are advanced practice nurses who have completed graduate and post-graduate coursework. Oncology Nurses provide physical care, administer therapies, carefully monitor patients, problem solve and assist patients in symptom management. They also teach patients, and talk with and support families.

Oncology Clinical Nurse Educator

Our Nurse Educator has advanced certification in cancer care and education from the Oncology Nurse Society, and will provide answers to questions about diagnosis, medications or concerns about treatment.

Oncology Care Coordinator

Our Cancer Teams includes Outpatient and Inpatient Oncology Care Coordinators. Their primary role is to provide discharge planning and help you cope with the complex emotional, financial, and practical problems that can occur. They work in partnership with you, your family and your physician to prevent fragmentation of care and services. To reach an Oncology Care Coordinator, call (574) 296-6553 (Monday-Friday). If no answer, please leave a voice mail message. 

Oncology Experience Guides

Our Cancer Team includes two Experience Guides. Their primary role is to walk beside you and your family throughout your entire cancer journey. To reach a Guide, call (574) 524-7486 or (574) 524-7487 (Monday-Friday). If no answer, please leave a voice mail message.

Dietitians

Dietitians offer a wide variety of services to cancer patients, from preparing menus to meet their special nutritional needs to making certain foods more palatable when a patient has a loss of appetite. They are available to both inpatients and outpatients of Elkhart General Hospital.

Physical and Occupational Therapists

Physical and occupational therapies help cancer patients relearn how to perform certain tasks and to retain as much independence as possible. In addition, they can help patients avoid or minimize certain side effects of cancer surgeries, such as swelling after a mastectomy. Therapy can begin at the bedside, and continue, if necessary, in the home setting.

Spiritual Assistance

The spiritual component of healing and health cannot be underestimated. We offer spiritual assistance through our house chaplain and Ribbon of Hope, a faith based program housed on our unit. If patients wish, Elkhart General Chaplains can visit them and their families on the Oncology Unit.

Social Workers and Discharge Planners

Post-hospital assistance is offered through our oncology social workers and discharge planners, who work to ensure our ability to continue to meet your needs at home. They provide a great source of support, education and encouragement for both you and your family at Elkhart General Hospital. With extensive experience in working with cancer patients, Oncology Social Workers and Discharge Planners can often anticipate problems or difficult emotions you may be feeling, and offer possible solutions. They assist patients and families with emotional adjustment.

Home Care

Before every cancer patient leaves Elkhart General, a comprehensive plan for discharge is written and preparations are made for care in the community. When a patient goes home, he or she may need nursing or support services from Home Care. In addition, patients receiving outpatient services may require Home Care assistance to manage their medical treatment or physical needs.