The Future of Cancer Care
New Cancer Center to Open Next Year

IVarian TrueBeam combines imaging and treatment technologies to expedite and improve the quality of treatments.

In late 2013, a new cancer center will open its doors at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. Inside will be state-of-the-art cancer services — including a new radiation oncology department — and a new, integrated care program for cancer patients. Medical, surgical and radiation oncologists will all be located in one building. The center will integrate with our existing pathology, genetic counseling, interventional radiology and support services.

“Our goal is to provide safe and reliable care to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. The entire team works to achieve this goal. It is our number one priority,” says John Fitzgerald, CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.

“We currently provide care for patients with breast, colon, prostate and other forms of cancer,” says Christine Tea, Service Line Director. “The center is an evolution of our cancer services here on campus. It has allowed Inova Fair Oaks Hospital to really focus on cancer patients, their families and everything they go through when receiving treatment.”

Leigh Ann Hallowell, RN, a patient care navigator at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital who currently works with cancer patients by helping them with appointments, transportation, education and support, will also be part of the new cancer center. “The new on-site radiation oncology capabilities will allow patients to get much-needed care close to home in a single location that is also close to physician specialists,” Hallowell says.

Critical Service

Not only will the treatment be convenient at the new center, but it will also be cutting-edge, says Stella Hetelekidis, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Dr. Hetelekidis’ group of physicians will be providing care at the new cancer center at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. The new center will include a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. “It’s the latest technology,” Dr. Hetelekidis says. “Like our equipment at Inova Fairfax Hospital, it has the capacity for basically any kind of external beam radiation treatment, as well as providing images of the areas we are treating.” With it, treatments usually last only about 10 minutes, she notes.

For many years, Dr. Hetelekidis and her group have worked with the physicians at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital to coordinate patients’ care, delivering radiation therapy at Inova Fairfax Hospital. While she says that from the physicians’ perspective, it’s acceptable to work across locations, “in general, patients like having all aspects of their care in one place. Once the cancer center is open, patients will be able to receive excellent quality radiation treatments without traveling too far.”

Hernan Vargas, MD, Medical Director of Inova Breast Care Institute at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, has been instrumental in bringing the cancer center to fruition. “The idea is to deliver patient-centered care, emphasizing the skill of the surgical, medical and radiation team in multidisciplinary treatment of all cancers, including the wellness component,” he says. “Nowadays, because we have such great success [with treatment] the concept of treating a patient is to focus not only on the cancer itself but also on the person and his or her well-being.”.

Integrated Care

The building will include space for patient services that focus on support and guidance — crucial to Hallowell’s job as nurse navigator, as she guides patients through the treatment process. “We’re not just providing machines, equipment, IVs and meds,” she says. “The mind-body connection is important. How you feel mentally makes a big difference in how you heal.”

“It’s very unique, ” Dr. Vargas adds. “The way we work here is truly as a multidisciplinary team.” Simply put, the new cancer center brings the integration of the entire team to one center.

	Stella Hetelekidis, MD, shown here with the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, is looking forward to using this new technology at the upcoming cancer center at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. Have it All — In One Place The overarching goal of the center is to make cancer treatment at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital more targeted and coordinated. The new building will include: A state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, capable of imaging for image-guided treatment Inova Life with Cancer™, a free program focused on supporting patients and their families through the cancer treatment phase and into survivorship An outdoor healing garden, accessible for patients and their families before and after appointments Physician office space