spotlight

Inova Schar Cancer Institute Fairfax, Va.

ransforming the massive headquar- somewhat secluded, on a private campus nutrition and exercise), and supportive ters of one of the world’s leading with dedicated parking lots and garages. counseling to patients and their loved ones T energy companies into a state-of- Refurbishing the new space to serve as an free of cost, regardless of where they are the-art, multidisciplinary cancer center is no all-in-one cancer center for patients and their being treated. The facility also offers spa small task. That was the discovery of families required completely rethinking the services that can provide much-needed relief Northern ’s after building, says Thomas Graves, MBA, FACHE, from treatment side effects. Read more it acquired ExxonMobil’s former headquar- vice president of the Inova Schar Cancer about Inova’s Life with Cancer program in the ters building for the new home of its cancer Institute. “It was a real challenge to repur- March-April 2018 Issues. center. But the effort was well worth it. pose the building,” he recalls. “ExxonMobil Created to accommodate 6,000 new was very security-conscious, and we had to A Suite of Clinical Services patients a year with a plethora of clinical and redesign the entire building to open it up for Operating the Inova Schar Cancer Institute support services, the $400 million Inova patient care.” That redesign included requires a significant number of staff. The Schar Cancer Institute—which opened its installing escalators and supplying water to cancer center serves a densely populated doors May 13, 2019—occupies 438,000 the entire building. Work on the ExxonMobil region and is projected to see 7,000 new square feet of space located off Washington, headquarters began in January 2016, and it patients by 2020. Serving that population are D.C.’s . The institute was opened as the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in more than 1,000 employees whom Inova created in response to the continuing May 2019. directly employs, including more than 50 population growth in the area and the rising The location and sheer space the building physicians, 15 advanced practice providers, incidence of cancer in the community. The provided proved to be well suited to the 75 nurses, 23 pharmacists, and 20 financial institute was largely made possible by a $50 health system’s vision for its comprehensive counselors. million gift from Dwight and Martha Schar— cancer care center. The addition of the The clinical care the Institute offers is the largest single donation that Inova Health location to its campus has enabled Inova comprehensive, allowing patients access to a System has ever received. Health System to bring under one roof its Inova Health System includes an multidisciplinary approach to personalized variety of disciplines, including specialty integrated network of five hospitals, primary cancer care. Special attention was given to surgeons, radiation oncologists, genetic and specialty care practices, emergency and the building’s design, which incorporates counselors, researchers, nurses, therapists, urgent care centers, outpatient services, works of art by local artists throughout the and volunteers. There are a wide variety of specialty institutes, and a broad network of facility and an art gallery with rotating treatment options, including the providers and services. The new cancer exhibits. Inova’s Artists in Residence program 70,000-square-foot Center for Advanced institute, which provides both inpatient and welcomes various artists to share their music Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy, outpatient services, is the flagship location of and poetry. scheduled to open in January 2020. To bring a cancer care network that covers all of The new cancer institute also serves as the its patients the most innovative treatments and serves the broader working space of a network of physicians, and technologies available, the Inova Schar Washington, D.C. metro area. It is located researchers, oncology nurse navigators, Cancer Institute: across the street from Inova’s largest genetic counselors, scientific partners, and • Serves as a site for the groundbreaking hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital. Despite the supportive care experts. It also is one of the TAPUR trial being conducted by the fact that it overlooks the Capital Beltway and sites for Inova’s Life with Cancer program, American Society of Clinical Oncology. is right off a busy main road, the cancer which provides cancer education, integrative • Creates personalized treatment plans for institute is removed from traffic and therapies, wellness programs (including patients with advanced cancers with the

12 accc-cancer.org | September–October 2019 | OI cancer institute’s Molecular Tumor Board. A Home for Patients and • Counsels patients concerned about Families personal and family health history “Life with Cancer began with a through its Cancer Genetics Program. philanthropic gift in 1988 from a gentleman who had lost his wife,” says The cancer institute’s suite of treatment Graves. “He wanted to create a options customizes life-saving therapies for program with support services that people dealing with all types of cancers. were not available to him and his Some of these therapies include immuno- family when his wife was ill. The therapy, “chemo bath” for abdominal program integrates a variety of cancers, cryotherapy, prostate seed implants, supportive, research-informed services and stem cell transplants, to name a few. and classes to improve the psycholog- • Nutrition counseling Patients at the cancer institute also have ical and physical well-being of patients, • Stress reduction access to dozens of ongoing clinical trials. adults, children, and their families, including • Integrative therapies Scientists conduct genomic and translational a psychiatrist/psycho-oncologist, counseling, • Support and networking groups research with their clinical and scientific educational classes, oncology navigation, • Art therapy partners around the world. The cancer center integrative healing, art therapy, massage, • Fitness offers clinical trials across cancer types and acupuncture, fitness programs, stress • Mind/body/wellness all phases of research and development. management, and nutritional counseling.” • Workshops Graves says that last year the cancer center Graves says that Life with Cancer’s • Acupuncture (special reduced fee for this participated in nearly 50 trials. “Our services ongoing operations are primarily funded by service) are founded on the latest in drug discovery, generous community donations. “We are • Oncology massage (special reduced fee for clinical trials, research, and advanced grateful for the longstanding community this service) treatments,” says Graves. support and dedicated volunteers who have • Energy therapies The Inova Schar Cancer Institute is also enabled Life with Cancer to offer most of its • Bereavement. home to 11 disease-specific programs, services for free to any patient, regardless of including its Brain and Spine Tumor Program, Programs and services are customized to where they receive treatment,” says Graves. Breast Cancer Program, Children’s Cancer patients and caregivers of all ages and all As one of the sites for Inova’s Life with Program, Genitourinary Cancer Program, stages in their cancer journey, including the Lung Cancer Program and programs for Cancer program, the cancer institute hosts newly diagnosed, those in active treatment, melanoma, gastrointestinal cancers, and several of its services, providing patients with those transitioning to survivorship, and malignant hematology. access to mediation rooms, exercise rooms, a those living with advanced disease. Other When first-time patients arrive at the new medical spa, and therapist offices. The Life services are tailored to children and teens, building, a centralized registration system with Cancer Family Center, a 16,000-square- young adults, and family and friends of helps them navigate the space. “To avoid foot home-like space, is located a few patients. overwhelming the patient, we have each minutes from the new campus, providing “Inova Life with Cancer is a national model person register at the same place on the first convenient access to additional comprehen- of supportive, integrative care that surrounds floor,” explains Graves. “When a new patient sive supportive programming, a significant a patient with the support, education, and arrives, he or she sees one of our 20 financial differentiator for Inova Schar. Using an skills they need during treatment and as they counselors. These counselors help determine evidence-based, integrative approach, the transition back to a normal life,” says Graves. benefits and discuss options if necessary. program’s multidisciplinary staff of almost “We don’t want people to be crippled by fear When patients are taken to receive treat- 50, who possess diverse skill sets and of a relapse. We want to give them the tools ment, we have eight Life with Cancer specialized training, provide support they need to continue to live their lives.” oncology navigators to help guide them.” throughout a patient’s continuum of care. The creation of Inova Schar Cancer These navigators are registered nurses who Programs are offered in the following areas Institute has enabled Inova Health System to support patients, their families, and free of charge: gather under one roof all of the clinicians and caregivers through diagnosis, treatment, and • Children/teen/parent services support staff necessary to support patients recovery. Nurse navigators serve as a • Educational classes related to side effects, with cancer and their families through personal resource to each patient, explaining disease, and treatment diagnosis to treatment to survivorship. “This and expediting medical tests and answering • Psychiatry (which accepts all major multidisciplinary and personalized approach questions across cancer types. healthcare insurance programs) to cancer care makes us unique in our ability • Oncology nurse navigation, including to give patients and their families the option pre-op classes of receiving all of their care in a single • Individual/couples/family counseling location,” says Graves.

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