Innovative spaces and an expert team help Childrens Hospital New Orleans set the standard in cancer care – NOLA.com

Editor's Note

This article is brought to you by Children's Hospital New Orleans.

While Childrens Hospital New Orleans has long been home to a nationally-known pediatric hematology/oncology program, it now has the state-of-the-art facilities to match those services.

The hospitals $300 million campus transformation included an expansion of its Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. The center treats more than 1,100 children each year with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and other childhood cancers and blood disorders. That is more pediatric patients that all other Louisiana facilities combined. The expanded unit encompasses 10,880 square feet, 16 spacious exam rooms and a cohesive space that combines all specialty clinics in one area.

There is plenty of evidence architecture and interior design make a difference for people, said Dr. Charles Hemenway, who helps lead Childrens Hospital New Orleans pediatric hematology and oncology services. An open and sunny space is more conducive to making someones attitude bright and sunny. The medical care doesnt change, but I think peoples overall outlooks are shaped in part by their surroundings not just for children and families, but also for the health care providers. It's a space where people can feel good about themselves and the work they are doing.

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is home to a care team comprised of the Gulf Souths largest group of hematology and oncology physicians and nurses dedicated exclusively to pediatrics. Most patients are from Louisiana, although they have treated children from Mississippi and Alabama, as well as international countries.

Lynn Winfield, MBA, BSN, RN, CPHON, NEA-BC, Childrens Hospital New Orleans senior director of patient care services, said that when a new patient arrives for cancer or blood disorder treatment, the staff meets with the family to outline the care plan and answer questions.

Its a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, residents and nurse practitioners. We have nurse navigators who help educate the family. We have great social workers, and one of them is usually in that conference, Winfield said. Families are overwhelmed and they dont retain every piece of information right away. Thats why we continue to meet with them as time goes on. Its a team that provides not only medical support, but financial and psychological support as well.

That makes a big difference to patients like Ashlynn and her family. After being diagnosed with cancer, Ashlynn underwent several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and stem cell treatments. But, today she can live like a kid again.

I am grateful for our Childrens Hospital family who, every day, give us something extraordinary to celebrate," Ashlynns mom Kim wrote in a letter to the staff. When I became a mother, I never imagined that this would be my story to share. But I am grateful Ashlynns story is one of hope and promise, thanks to the extraordinary caregivers at Childrens Hospital and friends in our community.

Dr. Hemenway said a child may remain at Childrens Hospital New Orleans anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on their condition and associated complications. Regardless of the length of their stay, patients also enjoy support from the community. For example, as a patient named Cam recovered from a transplant at Childrens Hospital New Orleans, his room overlooked the Audubon Park baseball fields where the Isidore Newman School team plays. After inspiration from Cams dad and a few phone calls, the team decided to turn around and wave at Cam before a game. Later, team moms installed an All In For Cam sign behind the Newman dugout.

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders also allows physicians to conduct cutting edge research and house a dedicated clinical trials team. Last year, this team worked on more than 90 cancer and blood disorder studies.

There are all kinds of ways to conduct research, starting with understanding cancer at its molecular origins all the way to finding the best medicines and dosages to achieve a good outcome, Dr. Hemenway said. With childhood cancer, we have made tremendous progress using medications that were developed many years ago. Because of clinical research, we are able to conclude every few years that some combination of therapies works better than what we were using in the past.

Winfield has seen the impact of this research firsthand. When she first started working at Childrens Hospital New Orleans 30 years ago, Winfield said the staff always knew they would lose more than a dozen children each year to disease. Today, that figure is greatly reduced and often is in the single digits.

However, because three out of five children who survive pediatric cancer experience late-developing side effects, Childrens Hospital New Orleans created Louisianas first and only dedicated pediatric cancer survivorship clinic, The Treatment After Cancer and Late Effects Clinic. Services include promoting follow-up appointments and routine tests and education on the long-term effects of cancer treatment. There are also emotional, psychological and social support services to help patients cope with the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis.

This job has allowed me to meet and be inspired by people that I never would have encountered, Winfield said. Its not an atmosphere of sad children sitting around and crying. Theres a lot of joy in it and people are so appreciative no matter the outcome. The beauty of this work lies in the relationships we form.

For more information, visit https://www.chnola.org/our-services/hematology-oncology/.

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Innovative spaces and an expert team help Childrens Hospital New Orleans set the standard in cancer care - NOLA.com