The everyday heroes of the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute are continuing the organization’s primary mission: dedicated to patient care. Our team members, from those at the frontlines of clinical care to those working behind the scenes to make it possible, have remained steadfast in their commitment to provide life-saving care in the face of adversity. They are an inspiration to us all.
For patients who are currently on treatment and those who are deciding where to go for treatment, you also inspire us. The reason we exist is to provide patients with the best chance of cure with the least chance of treatment-related side effects. The expert, compassionate care you need and deserve continues to this day, with safeguards in place to help protect you and staff members from the coronavirus. Thank you for your continued confidence in our care.
Stuart L. Klein
Executive Director
Doctors across the United States are rapidly adopting telemedicine as a way to effectively treat patients while mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. Nearly half of physicians surveyed say they are using telemedicine as a result of COVID-19, an increase from 18 percent who reported using telemedicine in 2018.1
The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute has increased its telemedicine capabilities by adding virtual visits with physicians and nurse case managers. When in-person consults with new or existing patients do not require a physical examination, appointments are being conducted by videoconference or telephone. The medical team has the flexibility to use the system that works best for patients, whether it’s a Facetime chat on a smartphone or tablet or a Zoom or Duo video call on a computer.
Roi Dagan, MD, MS, radiation oncologist at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Florida, said the telemedicine experience has been positive for both patients and physicians. He emphasized that with cancer, patients should not put off evaluation out of concerns about the coronavirus. “At this stage, cancer is an important indication and given the limitations on in-person appointments, everyone is eligible for a virtual visit,” he said.
When it comes to radiation oncology, a patient has been diagnosed and may already have had surgery or chemotherapy, so a large part of the initial evaluation is done by reviewing the patient’s medical records, lab test results and staging studies. A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical exam, and Dr. Dagan cautions that there are some limitations to a virtual visit. “I miss the connection with the patient and being able to lay hands on the patient,” he said. “There are times during a physical exam when you can directly visualize the cancer. That can make a difference in the treatment plans.” Once a new patient is eligible for treatment following a virtual visit, an in-person appointment is scheduled for scans and other physical exams to finalize the treatment plan.
Telemedicine2 has been part of the patient experience since opening in 2006, with telephone consultations, the patient portal VTOC – the secure electronic medical file for patients to access lab results, imaging scans and email messages with the clinical team – and some clinical trial follow-ups via telephone. Beyond safety considerations with the coronavirus, the virtual visit provides a new level of convenience for patients who are from out-of-town.
Telemedicine consults can be scheduled through the patient intake department by calling 904-588-1800. Once an appointment is scheduled an administrative assistant will contact the patient to help set up the software, if needed, test the device, and provide further instructions.
1https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/covid-19/news/21135528/telehealth-visits-surging-due-to-covid19-survey-of-physicians-finds , retrieved April 27, 2020
2https://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding-and-paying-for-treatment/choosing-your-treatment-team/telemedicine-telehealth.html, retrieved April 27, 2020
It’s important to have an open, honest conversation with your child about the coronavirus to help support their needs and understanding during this stressful time. No matter the age of your child, determining what your child already knows will help you to gain insight into how they are interpreting what is happening around them. It can be difficult to know how to answer your child’s questions and what information to share with them, so here are some tips on how to talk with your child about COVID-19.
A preschool-age child’s developmental understanding of illness is vague, simplistic, and magical (belief that one’s own thoughts, wishes or desires can influence the external world). Children in this age group are typically able to understand that if someone is sick, they might have a cough/not feel good and need to go to the doctor. Simple explanations such as, “we have to stay at home so we don’t get sick,” to explain why your child’s daily routine has changed are typically sufficient. This age group often believes that an illness or change in routine are punishment; it is important to reassure your child that they did not cause coronavirus and they are not being punished as events are canceled.
The typical school-age child is able to comprehend external causes of illness and needs specific, detailed information about the illness to meet their developmental needs. This age group typically can comprehend an explanation along the lines of the following:
It is important to let your child lead the conversation; the goal is to help alleviate your child’s worries or fears. Sometimes providing additional, unwanted information can create the opposite effect.
Teenagers are typically able to understand and comprehend various causes of illnesses, prevention, and symptoms. This age group often feels “invincible,” so it’s key to remind your teen that it is still important to practice social distancing and good hand hygiene, despite their young age. Ask your teen what they know about COVID-19 and clear any misconceptions they might have heard/seen on social media or the internet. Being open and honest, while also validating your teen’s fears and worries is important for this age group.
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy.
There are many ways to support your child during this uncertain time. When sharing information, it’s important to provide facts without promoting a high level of stress, to remind children that adults are working to address this concern, and to give children actions they can take to protect themselves. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.
By:
Jennifer Duncanson, MS, CCLS
Heather Oakley, LCSW, OSW-C
Never did Vito and Suellen Grippo imagine that a loose gemstone in Suellen’s wedding ring would end up saving Vito’s life - twice. But, a chance encounter with a jeweler who was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute did just that.
Vito and Suellen live in Myrtle Beach, SC, but Vito had business interests on the east coast of Florida and the couple traveled there several times a year. During one of their visits, Suellen noticed the loose gemstone. “I called a local jeweler and asked if he could repair the ring,” Suellen recalled. “He told me that he could but that I would have to wait a while, as he was traveling more than two hours each way, each day, for prostate cancer treatment. I was surprised to hear that he was willing to travel so far, and asked him where he was being treated. He told me he was going to the proton therapy institute in Jacksonville that was run by UF.”
Suellen didn’t give the information much thought until Vito was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November of 2014. But the jeweler’s detail about proton therapy, along with anecdotal accounts from acquaintances who were also undergoing treatment at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and other proton therapy centers quickly convinced the Grippos that they should investigate it for Vito’s treatment as well.
Vito had six weeks of proton therapy treatment and came through it with flying colors. The Grippos were surprised not only at how rapidly Vito was able to bounce back, but at the extraordinary support network evident at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute as well. “Everyone was amazing,” Suellen noted. “Not only the doctors, nurses and staff, but the other patients as well. You found yourself forming a support group that resulted in strong friendships. We still see many fellow patients, both at the reunions and socially.”
Vito and Suellen would need that support again, after Vito was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017. The diagnosis was startling – a sudden lump in his neck and a sore throat had devastating consequences. Again, their family physician recommended radical treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Vito turned to UF Health Proton Therapy Institute for their opinion. “They told me I would have to have the surgery, there was no avoiding it,” Vito says. “And, this time the treatment was going to be much harder.”
Vito’s new cancer had affected his throat, voice box, and tongue. A neck dissection – a surgical procedure designed to remove most of the affected area – led doctors to warn Vito that he might never be able to speak normally again. And, the radiation therapy would affect his ability to salivate and swallow, which brought about dramatic weight loss. The effect of the therapy was cumulative, meaning that Vito felt his worst as treatment was ending.
Today, Vito Grippo is not only speaking and eating, he is thriving, thanks to daily workouts and an exceptional support system that includes Suellen and the entire team at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. The Grippos remain deeply grateful for the treatment Vito received for both diagnoses, and decided that there was no more powerful way to express their thanks than to provide support in return. Their recent decision to leave their entire estate to UF Health Proton Therapy Institute will help ensure that the life-saving treatment offered here can continue. Vito explains their commitment to UF Health in simple but profound terms. “They saved my life,” he says. “There’s no better reason to give back than that.”
In response to the coronavirus, the group gatherings, luncheons and hands-on art activities have been temporarily suspended, but the helping spirit and support is still going strong. For example, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for wearing masks to include everyone, our artist-in-residence Pamela Gardener took out her scissors, needle, thread and fabric and started sewing. Others on staff and in the community joined in, and before long, there were enough cloth masks to supply every non-clinical employee and every patient with the protection they needed.
“Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help, and thank you to everyone for doing your part to protect yourselves and each other by wearing the cloth masks,” said Bradlee Robbert, director of operations at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.
We appreciate our staff members’ continued commitment and so do our patients who sent these thank you notes this month.
As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19, your health and safety remain our top priority. We are continuing radiation therapy for our patients, including proton therapy, IMRT and SBRT, with extra measures in place to ensure your well-being.
We are in regular contact with public health officials and University of Florida Health experts on the latest information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reducing the risk of infection. It is our goal to share information and changes that we make as conditions develop and we adapt to protect patients and staff.
As always, I am grateful for the hard work and commitment our team has shown in protecting not only themselves and their families, but their patients and coworkers as well. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we all work together to “flatten the curve” and minimize the threat posed by COVID-19.
Thank you and stay safe.
Stuart L. Klein
Executive Director
New Safety Measures at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute
New, enhanced safety measures are in place at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute to ensure every staff member and patient is protected from the threat of COVID-19. We have enacted the following policies:
Limiting Visitors and Caretakers
Pre-screening
Cleaning and Sanitizing
If you have any questions or concerns, please call 904-588-1800 and ask to speak to Brad Robbert. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and look forward to providing you with the best of care during this challenging time.
Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Now, more than ever, it is important to protect your health and safety, and that of your loved ones. Outside of your visits to UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, there are steps you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here’s how:
Wash Your Hands
Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or being in a public space.
Don’t Touch Your Face
Especially your nose, mouth and eyes. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue whenever possible, or your elbow, if necessary. Wash your hands immediately after.
Practice Social Distancing
Avoid crowds and close contact with people who are sick, keeping a distance of about 6 feet.
Prepare
Stock up on supplies like over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, household items and groceries. Patients: Determine who can provide you with care should your caretaker get sick.
Sanitize Your Space
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home and car, and avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places. Use a tissue or sleeve to cover your finger if you have to touch something.
For additional guidance, go to the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: www.cdc.gov
Every New Year brings with it new ideas, new challenges and new promises. As we stand at the very beginning of a new decade, it is appropriate for us to look back at the progress made and our goals for the future.
As a pioneer in proton therapy, we have been and will continue to be at the forefront of new technology, advancements in research and life-saving clinical trials. We’ve treated over 8,500 proton patients, including more than 1,800 pediatric patients. In fact, over the past decade, we have more experience in pediatric proton therapy than anywhere else in the country and remain in the top five proton therapy centers worldwide for number of patients treated.
With the start of patient treatments in our compact proton therapy gantry, Proteus®ONE, I’m encouraged to know that in 2020 and beyond, we will be able to treat more patients and additional types of cancer.
Our ongoing resolution and promise to you is that we will continue to help patients and future generations become cancer-free with a better quality of life.
Stuart L. Klein
Executive Director
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Cancer Support Ministry Group Presentation
1st United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda, FL
Virtual Event via Zoom
Event Registration: clmershell@floridaproton.org
LUNA Cancer Support Group
Presenter: Raymond Mailhot, MD
Tampa, FL
AAPC River City Chapter
Jacksonville, FL
Duval Car Club Cancer Awareness Fundraising Event & Car Show
Location To Be Determined
The Precision Newsletter is an electronic-only publication that is distributed by email. Each issue is sent monthly to patients, alumni patients and friends of the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute. As the official newsletter of the Institute, the content is compiled and prepared by our communications representative and approved by the editor Stuart Klein, executive director of UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. Special bulletin newsletters may occasionally be prepared when timely topics and new developments in proton therapy occur. If you would like to send a Letter to the Editor, please click here.
It is easy to stay in touch with us online at floridaproton.org . Look at the top right corner of the homepage for Facebook , Twitter and YouTube icons, click and join us in the social media conversation. Also on the right side of the homepage there is a button for VTOC Patient Portal . Click here to open your secure account, view your records, complete clinical trial questionnaires and communicate with your nurse case manager.
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