A recently opened center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James) gives patients direct, expedited access to diagnostic testing for cancer.
The goal, said Chief Medical Officer David Cohn, MD, MBA, is to provide immediate community-wide patient access to cancer providers for anyone with a suspected cancer, especially in communities where access to health care is limited and has become even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new James Cancer Diagnostic Center offers a platform for expert evaluation and access to the appropriate diagnostic testing so a cancer diagnosis can be made in a low-risk environment and in a timely and precise manner. Center visits can be virtual or in-person, based on the patient’s preference.
David Cohn, MD, MBA
Available for both self- or physician referral, the new center is open daily and staffed by a team of advanced practice professionals and nurses with expertise in oncology. Staff identify and prioritize patient needs and concerns and coordinate appropriate testing and evaluation on site and at facilities within The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. If a cancer diagnosis is made, the center coordinates follow-up care with a specialized, multidisciplinary team.
“COVID-19 has limited and changed access to health care across the country and the world. Having timely access to providers is a very real concern. We want to ensure that anyone with a suspected cancer can get a timely, accurate diagnosis so potentially life-saving care is not delayed unnecessarily,” says Dr. Cohn, who is also a gynecologic oncologist at the OSUCCC–James.
“Navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment can be stressful enough during ‘normal’ times—adding the uncertainty and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to make it truly overwhelming,” Dr. Cohen noted. “We want the community to know we are here to help, and patients should feel safe turning to us for testing and cancer care. That starts with being connected to the right experts and the right tests to get answers to guide treatment.”
