November 28, 2012 – The Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at the Shein Law recently reviewed an article, Mastering Mesothelioma, published in the Advance for Nurses that details a unique approach utilized by a well-known mesothelioma program to deliver top notch care to its patients. This program, Penn Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Program at the University of Pennsylvania, is considered one of the most esteemed and acclaimed programs of its kind in the nation. The article also emphasizes the significant role that nurses play on the Program’s team of healthcare professionals providing innovative interventions for patients suffering from the terminal disease, mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma and Pleural Program: A Team of Committed Specialists Providing Comprehensive, Compassionate Care
Penn Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Program was created in 2008 and consists of a team of physicians, nurses and a wide range of other specialists. Two physicians lead this world-renowned Program. Dr. Joseph Friedberg, one of the co-directors of the Program, is Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and a pioneer in the field of mesothelioma treatments. Dr. Friedberg co-directs the Program with Dr. Daniel Sterman, Chief of Interventional Pulmonology and Thoracic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. These two doctors are among some of the most respected mesothelioma physicians in the nation. The Mesothelioma and Pleural Program and Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center experts collaborate to provide world renowned research and patient care.
Nurses Play a Significant Role When Mesothelioma Patients Undergo Cutting-Edge Therapies
The article, Mastering Mesothelioma, discusses the significance of nurses in the success of Penn’s Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Program. They support and coordinate with the physicians and surgeons to establish and provide a comprehensive, compassionate treatment plan for each patient. Typically the first persons that have contact with the patient, the nurses establish relationships that continues throughout the patient’s treatment and recovery. The Program’s nurses become a valuable resource for information and support for patients and their families.
In most cases, a patient’s first experience with the program is a meeting with the Director of Clinical Services, Melissa Culligan, a Registered Nurse. Melissa is responsible for presenting each patient’s case to the multidisciplinary team at a weekly conference where all members come together to establish a plan of care. This team consists of medical oncologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and nurses that are actively involved in ongoing clinical trials, and psychiatrists. After all available medical options are reviewed with the patient and their family, a final treatment plan is established.
Karen Mudrick, the Program’s Director of Operations, also serves as the Patient Navigator, acting as the liaison between the patient and the medical staff. Karen assists patients in answering questions about the program and coordinates appointments with the mesothelioma team members.
When a patient is undergoing surgery they may encounter Julie Sarmanian, an operating room nurse and a member of the thoracic team. Julie and the Program’s other operating room nurses prepare the operating rooms, anticipating surgical needs such as equipment and medications, and provide procedural assistance during surgery. In addition, they offer support and encouragement to both the families and the surgeons during long, arduous procedures.
In the post-operative phase, nurses not only tend to the patient’s physical needs but also play a key role in providing positive encouragement that is needed for the recovery process. Staff nurses such as Katie Grasing often possess the unique ability to take a difficult situation and help the patient and their families see things on a more positive light.
Why Penn Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Program Is Unique
There are certain features that make Penn’s program unique. The program utilizes a multidisciplinary approach when treating its patients. Each medical specialist involved is able to use their experience and expertise to recommend the best treatment options to the patients. As a result, all medical disciplines collaborate to create a treatment plan which is best for each particular patient.
The program also offers clinical trials to its patients. This gives patients the opportunity to experience the newest therapies, including chemotherapy and gene therapy trials. Much thought goes into establishing a treatment plan that equally considers both a patient’s quality of life and the overall benefits of treatment.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorneys at the Shein Law Support Penn Medicine’s Mesothelioma and Pleural Program
As a life-long member of the Philadelphia-area community and a second-generation attorney witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of asbestos exposure on individuals and their families in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region, Benjamin Shein, lead attorney at the Shein Law, has long been a supporter of research that seeks to improve the lives of those suffering from mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses.
The Shein Law – Committed to Seeking Justice and Compensation for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, we encourage you to contact the qualified Pennsylvania and New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys at the Shein Law in Philadelphia, PA or Pennsauken, New Jersey. With our extensive legal expertise and dedication to our clients, we can help you understand what legal options you have and proceed as a team to establish a sound case that will seek justice and the maximum compensation that you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. For a thorough review of your case, contact the Shein Law today at 877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) or fill out our online contact form.