Cancer

Spectrum Health Earns Cancer Rehabilitation Certification

Cancer care goes beyond just fighting the disease.

Spectrum Health has earned STAR Program® Certification for providing quality care to cancer patients after their initial treatment. The award comes from the Massachusetts-based Oncology Rehab Partners, an organization that leads experts in the field of survivorship care. STAR Program Certification uniquely qualifies facilities like Spectrum Health Regional Cancer Center to offer premium cancer rehabilitation and survivorship services to people who suffer from debilitating side effects caused by treatments.

“We want our patients to feel there is value in their life every day and to have an improved quality of life during and after their cancer treatment,” said Nancy Mason, physical therapist and STAR Program outpatient clinical lead at Spectrum Health. “We do not want them to forget that they have survived – and with the help of a STAR Clinician®, can live at their highest physical potential.”

To receive certification, Spectrum Health implemented the STAR Program which involves training clinicians and focusing on improving patient care outcomes. The health care services offered by the STAR Program are covered by most insurance providers, including Medicare, and will be available to all patients.

Specialty caregivers from a pool of disciplines – including physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, mental health professionals, and others – 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 recognize the importance of survivorship and rehabilitation in the cancer journey and, as such, have grown our team to over 100 certified clinicians at over 25 locations within West Michigan,” said Shannon Schulz, director of rehabilitation at Spectrum Health. “The STAR Program Certification is the flagship product and gold standard in cancer rehabilitation.” 

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 after effects 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.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 170 ambulatory and service sites; 1,080 employed physicians and advanced practice providers including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a 575,000-member health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 21,300 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year.