Cancer Center receives STAR Program® Certification

The Comprehensive Cancer Center at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) announced today that it has earned its STAR Program® Certification from the Massachusetts-based Oncology Rehab Partners, leading experts in the field of survivorship care.  HCMC Comprehensive Cancer Center is leading the way by offering excellent cancer rehabilitation services to its patients by becoming STAR Program Certified.

STAR Program Certification uniquely qualifies facilities like the HCMC Comprehensive Cancer Center to offer premium cancer rehabilitation and survivorship services to people who suffer from debilitating side effects caused by treatments.

To receive its certification, HCMC Cancer Center implemented the STAR Program which involves training clinicians and focusing on improving patient care outcomes. The healthcare services offered by the STAR Program are covered by most insurance providers, including Medicare, and will be offered to patients by a knowledgeable and sensitive medical staff that is specially trained to work with survivors of all forms of cancer.

The multidisciplinary group includes the medical director of PM&R, advanced practice providers, nurses, physical therapists and lymphedema specialists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dietitian, social work, and exercise trainer.  The collaborative group will be one of the first multidisciplinary STAR Programs in the state of Minnesota.

They will work together with each patient on a personalized rehabilitation plan to increase strength and energy, alleviate pain, and improve daily function and quality of life.

“We pursued grant funding to cover the cost of the training for 25 participants as part of our Survivorship program.  Being awarded the full amount not only validated our belief that there has been a gap in care for our patients, but it also provided organizational support for our cancer survivors.  We’re very excited to be able to fill the gap and offer these services,” Syndal Ortman, RN, DNP, HCMC Survivorship & Cancer Rehab Program Director.

STAR Program Certification provides hospitals and cancer centers with the tools needed to quickly and effectively implement high-quality survivorship services.

About the STAR Program The STAR Program is a best practices multidisciplinary cancer rehabilitation service-line model that improves patient care. STAR Program Certification provides healthcare facilities and clinicians with the tools (education,  training, evaluation and treatment protocols, and outcomes support) to develop and deliver state-of-the-art cancer rehabilitation services to survivors who suffer the side effects and aftereffects of treatments – whether they are in remission, living with cancer or cured. All of the services integrated in the STAR Program, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental health counseling, and consultations with rehabilitation medicine physicians (physiatrists), are typically covered by health insurance. Learn more at www.OncologyRehabPartners.com.