THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190602
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALVA CHOPP, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 77 lines
Doctors at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center devote most of their energy to supporting the fleet and keeping sailors fit for duty.
But the Portsmouth hospital, among the Navy's largest, is also a major institution for the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases.
Recognizing Portsmouth's efforts, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons recently awarded the hospital a three-year approval for its cancer program - the group's highest rating.
Cmdr. Steven Remmenga, a gynecological oncologist and head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, said the approval came after an extensive review of the hospital's diagnostic and treatment procedures.
It is a way of evaluating the performance and long-term results of patient care, he said.
A committee reviewed many aspects of the medical center's cancer treatment, including departmental tumor board meetings, efficiency of cancer patient follow-ups and the results of patient-care evaluations.
Remmenga said the center ranked favorably with nationwide results. ``We offer full-service care for our patients, from diagnosis through radical surgery, chemotherapy and follow-up.'' he said.
First Class Petty Officer David Simmons has a personal interest in the hospital's care.
Eight years ago the Coast Guard quartermaster developed a case of food poisoning in Key West, Fla. After examining his x-rays, Simmons' doctors told him his stomach seemed to be fine.
But they uncovered another problem: Simmons had developed Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
He is receiving chemotheraphy under the supervision of Capt. Vincent Shen, a hematology oncologist at the naval medical center.
``Because this is a teaching hospital, I think it has actually enhanced my care because someone is constantly re-evaluating how things are done,'' Simmons said.
``The people here remember you from visit to visit. That makes you feel like they care about your recovery.''
Shen said Simmons' experience at the hospital is not unique. Through the use of a hospice program, social workers and a close relationship with other hospitals, the staff strives to prepare for all eventualities while searching for the best treatment available.
An integral component of the cancer program is the tumor registry.
All patients who are diagnosed or treated for cancer are listed in the registry, enabling the medical center to ensure they receive continuing care and assistance with rehabilitation.
``Through the data base we can look at the numbers and ask questions about the population of cancer patients we see and how they compare to nationwide results,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Notaro, general surgeon and cancer liaison physician.
Notaro said the naval medical center sends data from as many as 500 newly-diagnosed cancer patients yearly to the registry, and actively follow about 2,500 to 3,000 patients.
Data collected through the registry allows the hospital to participate in national studies designed to improve patient care.
``A lot of our emphasis is on the patient as a whole,'' Notaro said, ``their entire treatment, not only from the time they're diagnosed, but their care at home. Are they getting the appropriate social services, financial aid?'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
VICKI CRONIS/The Virginian-Pilot
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David Simmons, left, is fighting
Hodgkins disease with the help of Dr. Vincent S. Shen. ``The people
here remember you from visit to visit,'' he said.
Graphic
STATS:
Built in 1827, the oldest naval hospital in the U.S.
360 beds, with an average 238 inpatients.
200 staff physicians and dentists, 500 nurses, and 3,200 other
health and support personnel by CNB