Bartlett Regional | House Calls | Winter 2021
www.bartletthospital.org 13 Christopher P. Savarese, MSN, FNP-BC, AOCNP Hematology/oncology lead nurse practitioner How did you come to your career choice? I started out years ago as a registered nurse and became motivated to provide patients comprehensive holistic care. Becoming an oncology nurse practitioner provided me the ability to give cancer patients the complete care they need and deserve. Where are you from and what did you do before arriving at Bartlett Regional Hospital? I was born and raised in Long Island, New York. I have 20 years of active duty military experience, and I’ve served the last five years in the Air National Guard as I worked in private oncology practice. What are your first impressions of Juneau? Juneau is magnificent! Its scenery is amazing, and I have met the nicest people of anywhere I have traveled. What does your new position entail? As the hematology/oncology lead nurse practitioner, I am part of the team delivering world-class cancer care and supervise day-to-day clinical oncology operations. What do you most enjoy about your job? Meeting and helping people is the most enjoyable part of my job. What do you hope to bring to your patients? I hope we can further develop systems to enhance the cancer care in Southeast Alaska through outreach programs and education, as well as the development and implementation of the latest and most effective cancer treatments. What are you most looking forward to in your new life here? I look forward to me and my family becoming and staying part of this great community…and the outdoors! Why you should keep up with cancer screenings Many peoplemay be putting off cancer screenings because of COVID-19. And that has health experts worried. It could mean that thousands of cancers will go undetected, causing unnecessary deaths. So it is important to maintain regular visits to your primary care provider, who can help keep you on schedule for recommended screenings for breast or colon cancer or determine if you require screenings for other cancers. If you’ve postponed a cancer screening due to COVID-19, here are three things you should know: 1 Delays can be dangerous. Screenings are meant to find cancer in its earliest stages before it causes symptoms. That’s when it’s usually easier to treat. Waiting could mean that cancer gets caught at a later stage, when it is more advanced. 2 Your safety is a top priority. We have protocols in place to keep you safe when you come in for a colonoscopy or mammogram ordered by your primary care provider. These steps include: X Checking patients for COVID-19 symptoms before their test. X Staggering visits to avoid overcrowding. X Limiting visitors. X Cleaning and disinfecting equipment and surfaces often. X Requiring all staff and patients to wear face masks. 3 You may have options. Depending on the type of test and your risk factors, short delays may be OK. For instance, many women get Pap tests yearly. But the American Cancer Society says women only need a cervical cancer screening every three to five years. So a delay of a few months might not be significant. For some cancers, there may also be screening options that can be done at home or virtually. Start by asking your doctor what options are available and what screening schedule may be right for you.
Made with FlippingBook
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzIxMDA=