New Infusion Bays Provide Privacy, Support to Patients With Cancer

The infusion floor at JFK University Medical Center’s new cancer center, which features private bays for patients as well as options to be supported by loved ones, was designed with input from oncology nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs), according to hospital leadership.

The new floor has separate infusion bays with sliding doors for patients to decide whether to keep it closed for privacy or open it for community. Additionally, the bays have enough space that loved ones are able to be in the area. Screens are also available at the bays to allow patients to confer with loved ones or participate in meetings via video call.

Michele Morrison, MPH, BSHA, RN, whose presidency at JFK University Medical Center was announced at the cancer center’s opening, explained that the hospital’s director of oncology, Lori Sammartino, DNP, NP-C, OCN, NE-BC, is a trained nurse, which enhances the extent to which the center is influenced by nurse leadership.

Joseph Landolfi, DO, chief medical officer at JFK University Medical Center, contributed that APPs also had a say in the new center’s layout. He mentioned that their input helped with decisions like layouts of patient care areas.

Chief Executive Officer of Hackensack Meridian Health Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, added that because nurses spend the most time with patients, their input is vital to providing the best care.

Transcript

Morrison: Patients come here, and we will take care of every component of their health care needs as it relates to cancer, and the environment for them to get that is a beautifully bright space with a lot of privacy for patients who need it, and certainly the availability of extra space. So, if they want to bring a family member or support person with them when they’re getting care and treatment, we have ample space for that. Our director of oncology here, she is a nurse by training. She’s done an amazing job leading this program for the full scope of comprehensive cancer care that we are providing in this building.

Sammartino: These televisions are equipped with a camera so that patients can FaceTime family or friends or have a meeting if they have a Zoom call they have to do. It’s really a great feature on these TVs. This is a whole new service

Landolfi: The space that you’re seeing, which took years of planning, those advanced practice nurses had input into the design. It can get as gritty and as detailed as where the sink should be in relationship to the patient care, or where the pharmacy needs to be in relationship to the chemotherapy infusion.

Garrett: The nurses were very, very involved in designing the cancer center. Nursing is the backbone of our institution. We want to make sure that nurses are involved in the decision making all the way through the process, and so their input is so important. Who spends the most time with the patients? The nurses do.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.