News
Grand River Hospital District is opening the newest program focused on helping cancer patients live full, vibrant lives, despite dealing with the affects of the disease.
This Thursday night, the hospital is hosting an open house to inform the public of the Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation (STAR) Program. STAR is a nationally recognized program that focuses on helping cancer survivors regain as much of their former lifestyle as possible.
The STAR program utilizes a team approach to help cancer survivors increase strength and energy, better manage pain, and improve their ability to complete everyday activities from four disciplines, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical dietitian and clinical worker.
It's a specialized program that has much need in the valley, according to Occupational Therapist and STAR Program Clinical Coordinator, Mandy Hively.
“There is a definite local need for a program like this,” Hively said. “[Currently] people have to travel to get the treatments, but for their survivorship services, we can provide that locally.”
Since there is a lot of new and expanding oncology programs in Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs, “we are not looking at providing that service,” Hively said. GRHD is looking to provide survivorship services during and after treatment, she said.
“We are not treating cancer. We are helping them survive afterwards and live life to its fullest,” she said.
She said the program looks at specific issues that patients deal with, such as battling fatigue or emotional or nutritional issues.
“We focus on all of the after care,” she said, “Trying to get them back to as normal of a life as they can have.”
The program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach in which clinicians from different specialties team up to help patients increase strength and energy, pain management, optimize health and improve their tolerance to activities of daily living.
At the open house each department will explain what their roll is for the program, how it works and how it fits into the overall scope. There will be informational booths set up as well. Most importantly, the hospital wanted to make the information session comfortable and inviting for people to come and see what the it's all about.
“It's kind of a personal subject, and we wanted to make people feel at ease,” Hively said.
Survivors are welcome to attend, along with family and friends of survivors, and anyone else interested in supporting oncology programs.
For more information about the Cancer Rehab Survivorship services STAR program, visit www.grhd.org.
This Thursday night, the hospital is hosting an open house to inform the public of the Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation (STAR) Program. STAR is a nationally recognized program that focuses on helping cancer survivors regain as much of their former lifestyle as possible.
The STAR program utilizes a team approach to help cancer survivors increase strength and energy, better manage pain, and improve their ability to complete everyday activities from four disciplines, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, clinical dietitian and clinical worker.
It's a specialized program that has much need in the valley, according to Occupational Therapist and STAR Program Clinical Coordinator, Mandy Hively.
“There is a definite local need for a program like this,” Hively said. “[Currently] people have to travel to get the treatments, but for their survivorship services, we can provide that locally.”
Since there is a lot of new and expanding oncology programs in Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs, “we are not looking at providing that service,” Hively said. GRHD is looking to provide survivorship services during and after treatment, she said.
“We are not treating cancer. We are helping them survive afterwards and live life to its fullest,” she said.
She said the program looks at specific issues that patients deal with, such as battling fatigue or emotional or nutritional issues.
“We focus on all of the after care,” she said, “Trying to get them back to as normal of a life as they can have.”
The program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach in which clinicians from different specialties team up to help patients increase strength and energy, pain management, optimize health and improve their tolerance to activities of daily living.
At the open house each department will explain what their roll is for the program, how it works and how it fits into the overall scope. There will be informational booths set up as well. Most importantly, the hospital wanted to make the information session comfortable and inviting for people to come and see what the it's all about.
“It's kind of a personal subject, and we wanted to make people feel at ease,” Hively said.
Survivors are welcome to attend, along with family and friends of survivors, and anyone else interested in supporting oncology programs.
For more information about the Cancer Rehab Survivorship services STAR program, visit www.grhd.org.
