Cancer Care Program

Coping with an unexpected illness is stressful for both you and those who love and care for you. The VNS Cancer Care Program is designed to meet the complex needs you may have as you learn about and how to deal with a potentially life-threatening illness.

The Cancer Care Team at VNS works closely with your primary care physician, surgeon, oncologist, and any of the regional cancer centers where you may be receiving care to develop an individualized homecare plan for you, based on the stage and severity of illness.

Together, we work to maintain a patient/family focus throughout the homecare process, striving to meet the medical, post-operative, psychosocial and spiritual needs of you and your family members or caregivers.

Services include:

• Oversight by an RN Case Manager with training in cancer and
  palliative care  
• Assessment and teaching about symptom management
• Infusion, including some (home) chemotherapy treatments and management of central lines and mediports
• Education relating to medication and infusion administration
• Care relating to chemo and radiation therapies
• Wound care, ostomy and continence management

By bringing together a skilled multidisciplinary team of diverse professionals, we offer extensive experience caring for patients with the following specialized care needs:

• Palliative Care  
• Enteral Therapy
• Infusion Therapy/Home Chemotherapy
• Pain Control
• Symptom Management
• Venipuncture/Blood Draws
• Wound and Ostomy
• Hospice Care

How To Obtain A Referral

Based on your individual needs, your physician will make a homecare referral. You may inform your hospital nurse or physician about your preference in using Visiting Nurse Service. Our Homecare Coordinator will arrange for your post-hospital homecare plan. Referrals are accepted seven days a week by calling our Intake Department at 585.787.2233.

Insurance Coverage

The cost of services may be covered by Medicaid, Medicare, HMOs and private insurance companies and will be verified before admission.

VNS provides personalized, insightful and thoughtful attention to your needs to add to your comfort and speed of recovery. We can assist you in finding other available community services through our network of organizations
when necessary.