Outpatient Oncology Video Tour: Voorhees

Outpatient Oncology Video Tour: Voorhees

Angel: Hi, welcome to CHOP’s Oncology Clinic in Voorhees, New Jersey. The name of the building is really long. I hear you’re going to be coming here for outpatient cancer treatment. That means you’re going to come here for the day and go home. Inside there, there’s some great doctors and nurses. My name is Angel and I’ll show you around. We know what you’re going through, and we’re here to help.

Here, in Voorhees, you get the exact same care as you do in Philly, and it’s super convenient. When you enter, drive straight back to the parking lot. Let’s head inside. After I was diagnosed with cancer, I came here to Voorhees a lot. Now, I’m back in school and doing great. After you arrive, you need to check in, and then you can hang out here until the doctors and nurses are ready to see you.

You can bring anything from home — toys, games or homework. Sometimes I bring my iPad and Legos. And adults can get work done. Boring! You can bring food and they provide snacks. Yup, they pretty much thought of everything.

Patty: Hi Angel, how are you doing today?

Angel: Good, how are you doing, Patty?

Patty: I’m doing great, thank you. You ready?

Angel: Ready

Patty: Great. First, we’re going to see how much you’ve grown since the last time you were here, and then we’ll check your blood pressure and temperature.

Angel: OK

Patty:  Great

Angel: I’m going to stay here and Patty will take it away.

Patty: Hi, I’m Patty, one of the four CHOP nurses here in Voorhees. We also have physicians, a nurse practitioner, pharmacists, who make the medicines on site, a child life specialist, a social worker, and even a psychologist. You receive the same level of care here as you do at our main campus. Many of the staff are the same; we even go back and forth.

You may be worried or even a little scared. Trust me, it gets easier. Everybody’s visit here is different. Some visits will be for a physical exam, other times, you may just need a lab check and you won’t need to see the doctor. If you have a central line, we’ll draw your labs or do any dressing changes in the vascular access room, which we call the jungle room. We also have a phlebotomy lab here for patients who don’t have a central line or if you would rather just get a finger stick for your labs.

If you need general anesthesia, that happens in the surgery center next door. All of our rooms are close to each other. At this point, your appointment may be finished and you would go to the front desk to make your next appointment. Or, you might come here to the Day Hospital area if you need a blood or platelet transfusion or you’re due for chemotherapy.

Now Dr. Nick will take it from here.  

Dr. Nick: Hello, I’m Dr. Nick Evageliou, one of the oncologists here. A lot of kids spend a good portion of their day here in the Day Hospital. There are five bays in front of these big windows, and there are three private bays as well. Your family members can sit right here with you, and your nurses are all right here, just a few steps away.

Even when you’re not at CHOP, we’re still here for you. We have an oncology nurse on the phone every single day, including weekends and holidays to answer your questions and guide you at home. After 5 o’clock, you can call our oncology fellow on call.

We certainly hope you’re going to feel your best at home. But, if you don’t feel well or have a fever, definitely have a parent or a guardian call us.

We know this is a stressful time for you and your family. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the best hospitals in the world. You’re in the right place. We’re here for you and your family every step of the way. We want you to know that we’re all in this together.