In addition to helping patients and their families adjust to and cope with cancer, psychologists act as liaisons to facilitate better commu-nication between patients and doctors, thereby leading to increased involvement in treatment and treatment compliance. Ultimately, this leads to better outcomes. Also, physicians say that psychologists offer assistance to them by providing pharmacotherapy recommen-dations, which emphasizes the need for psychologists to have a background in psychopharmacology. Consultants in Medical Oncology and Hematology report high pa-tient satisfaction, as patients recognize the quality of care they are receiving. Although physicians in the practice value and are committed to financially supporting the inte-grated model, the article notes that not all insurance companies support the psychological component of oncology care. Their hope is to demonstrate value to insurance companies by collecting and presenting data, which will convince insurers to support the practice’s efforts. For more information visit their website: http://www.cmoh.org/Article from APA Monitor on Psychology, “The integrative approach to cancer care,” Volume 32, No. 4, April 2001.
Page 3
Page 3 Spotlight: Obesity Kendra Beitz, Ph.D. This issue features obesity tools. The number of obese adults and children in the United States is on the rise. According to the Center or Disease Control, 64.5 percent of U.S. adults, age 20 years and older, are overweight and 30.5 percent are obese. Given that obesity is such a high prevalence problem associated with a number of health risks (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery dis-ease, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, to name a few), it is key health problem to target as part of an overall effort to improve patients’ life-styles. Below are several resources for providers and healthcare consum-ers: • American Obesity Association http://www.obesity.org/s new advances in medicine, treatment, care, and support extend the quality of life and life expectancy of cancer patients, more patients have an equally extended (and mostly unmet) psychological need. At Consultants in Medical Oncology and Hematology, a hospital-based cancer treatment center, patient’semotional and mental health needs were found to be difficult for John Sprandio, MD and his staff to meet, while still maintaining a high level of physical care. Sprandio and his colleagues tried outside resources, such as community support groups, but soon realized the need to integrate psychologists within the medical practice. Therefore, the decision was made to integrate three psychologists into the facility. The benefits of integrated cancer care were soon made apparent. According to John Sprandio, M.D., chief medical oncology and hematology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, a third to one half of patients intheir practice exhibit emotional problems, including depression and anxiety. The psychologists are able to provide a broad range of ser-vices, including individual, group, and family therapy, within the medical setting. One psychologist noted differences between tradi-tional outpatient mental health and providing services in this setting, for instance seeing patients in the chemotherapy suite instead of in a private office. However, the new providers have learned to adapt tothe ecology of a hospital-based practice, including becoming medi-cally literate to help bridge the gap between patients and providers.