Creating a Continuum of Care for Snowbirds

One of the top concerns of many frequent travelers is what will happen if they find themselves in a medical emergency. Snowbirds, as part-time Florida residents with residences in the north are affectionately known, and others on extended vacations must also ensure that they have provided for routinely scheduled healthcare and medication needs during their time away from home.

 

Now, imagine that you are a snowbird who is battling cancer and that a missed treatment could jeopardize the outcome of your therapy or make you ineligible to participate in a clinical trial.

 

An ongoing collaboration between Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale and the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston – now entering into its third year – offers Mass General Cancer Center’s South Florida-bound patients a continuum of care, while Holy Cross also expands oncology services to South Florida residents.

 

One of the leading cancer care providers in the United States, the Mass General Cancer Center comprises 23 fully integrated, multidisciplinary clinical programs and a vast array of support and educational services. Its network of affiliations extends throughout New England and the southeastern U.S.

 

Just as patients treated at the Michael and Dianne Bienes Comprehensive Cancer Center at Holy Cross Hospital have access to Mass General Cancer Center specialists, snowbirds can also benefit from an improved coordination of care. Additionally, patients have access to disease-specific care in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, and also have access to clinical trials for all stages and types of cancer.

 

In a current initiative between the two institutions, Holy Cross is sponsoring a clinical trial for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the investigational medication belinostat (PDX101) which targets HDAC (histone deacetylase) enzymes, thereby believed to slow tumor cell growth, promote cellular differentiation, and inhibit angiogenesis. This investigational medication is also believed to possibly sensitize drug-resistant tumor cells to other chemotherapy agents, potentially increasing their effect.

 

All patients, whether South Florida residents or snowbirds, should expect and deserve world class medical care, and hospitals must continue to develop innovative programs like the Holy Cross Hospital collaboration with Mass General Cancer Center to deliver care in ways that compliment our patients’ lifestyles and support their decisions to travel if they wish.