Charleston Leader

The Cancer Center is for adult medical oncology and hematology care.

A DNV accredited facility, the CAMC Cancer Center provides personalized multidisciplinary cancer care, access to innovative clinical cancer research trials and hematological care for a diversity of benign and malignant conditions in a caring environment.

The Commission on Cancer survey was conducted in November 2020. CAMC received an accreditation status for three years without contingency.

The Cancer Center is accredited by the QOPI Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) was designed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in recognition of the importance of integrating continuous quality improvement into patient centered clinical practice. This voluntary program allows facilities to monitor quality initiatives against benchmarks established through ASCO’s member oncologists and quality experts using clinical guidelines and published standards.

The Cancer Center:

• Provides infusion for an average of 60–70 patients daily.
• Teays Valley office offers hematology/oncology services and infusion for patients.
• Gynecology oncology office, located in Charleston, offers specialized care to patients diagnosed with cancer of the female reproductive system.
• Sickle Cell clinic is held from 9 a.m. – noon on the last Friday of each quarter at the center. The clinic is staffed by both a pediatric hematologist oncologist and adult hematologist oncologist. 
• Features a majority of nurses certified in oncology.
• Has two board certified oncology pharmacists.
• Physicians help educate internal medicine residents of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Charleston-Division. Trainees also have the opportunity to work with Cancer Center staff physicians on research projects leading to academic presentations/publications integral to their training requirements.
• CAMC’s Clinical Cancer Research activities have been central to providing state-of-the-art cancer care opportunities for our patients for more than 25 years.
• The resource room, located on the first floor of the cancer center houses our CARE Team, which includes a social worker, psychologist, dietician, financial navigators, patient navigators and pastoral care.
• The boutique, located on the first floor, offers wigs, hair care and other products to cancer patients being treated at the CAMC Cancer Center.
• The outpatient pharmacy, located on the first floor, is open to the public. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ambry Genetic Testing

Some patients are at increased risk of developing cancer due to genetic inheritance (i.e., it runs in the family). Approximately 5-10% of cancer is hereditary. The new assessment and testing, provided by Ambry Genetics, evaluates each patient’s risk of developing cancer based on questions answered on survey that pertains to the patient’s personal family history. Testing is based upon the answered questions and recommendations by NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guidelines. Genetic testing results are a tool to help clarify cancer risk and assist the health care provider in determining the best place of action moving forward. Genetic counseling is also offered by Ambry should genetic testing result in a positive genetic mutation.

Pretreatment/Posttreatment/Survivorship Clinic

The goal of the clinic is to schedule patient’s beginning treatment related to their cancer diagnosis to discuss treatment plans, as well as evaluate any barriers (financial, psychological, physical, etc.) that may prevent the patient from receiving treatment. The clinic also sees patients who are completing treatment and prepares the patient for life after cancer. A survivorship plan of care is designed specifically for each patient and provides the patient with the information regarding their treatment and plans for follow up and testing in the future. This information is also shared with the patient’s primary provider.

Walk-In Clinic

The Cancer Center’s walk-in clinic features quick, convenient access for nonemergency care. Staffed by medical providers who specialize in cancer care the clinic treats walk-ins (no appointment or referral required) who are existing patients in active treatment. The clinic is at the Cancer Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (304) 388-8380.

Sickle Cell Clinic provides specialized, ongoing care for patients

CAMC’s outpatient Sickle Cell Clinic is dedicated to treatment and management of the disease in both adult and pediatric patients.

The CAMC Sickle Cell Clinic is dedicated to delivering comprehensive care for patients with sickle cell disease by providing easy access to specialists for disease management and preventative care. Its physicians specialize in both adult and pediatric sickle cell disease, and its multidisciplinary approach to care ensures patients receive the highest level of care to treat the many complicated facets of the disease.

The clinic provides ongoing care for patients with individualized treatment plans, including rapid access to infusion care services for blood infusion and transfusion therapies. It also provides patient education, coaching and support, and easy access to other hospital services for any complications that may arise.

The clinic is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment for pediatric patients, call (304) 388-4979. Adult patients can call (304) 388-8380 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Project ECHO

Most medical oncologists practice in urban areas, leaving rural communities without the capacity to screen, diagnose and treat patients with cancer, many of whom are diagnosed at later and less treatable stages.

Project ECHO links expert specialist teams at an academic hub, such as CAMC, with primary care clinicians in local communities. Together, they manage patient cases so that patients get the care they need. Although the ECHO model makes use of telecommunications technology, it is different from telemedicine.

The CAMC Cancer Center has conducted Project Echo sessions on topics applicable to breast cancer survivorship. The format includes a short didactic by specialists followed by an in-depth case discussion.

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