Children's Hospital Staff and the Oncology Health Care Team

Pediatric cancer treatment usually takes place in a children's hospital oncology ward. Oncology is the area of medicine that specializes in cancer treatment. The oncology department of the children's hospital will likely be a medical teaching and research center as well as a pediatric cancer ward.

Cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary health care team, including:

doctors
medical technicians
nurses
support staff.

Most children's hospitals consider parents an integral part of the health care team.

The Cancer Treatment Health Care Team

The sheer number of medical professionals and support staff included in an oncology health care team may overwhelm both the patient and the parents, especially while they get used to the hospital's physical layout and schedule. Below are lists of some of the medical professionals and support staff that may be part of a child's oncology health care team.

Pediatric and Oncology Specialists

A number of specialists may be involved:

Endocrinologist: This is a specialist in diseases of the endocrine system.
Neurologist: Neurologists are specialists in brain disorders.
Ophthalmologist: This is a specialist in eye disorders.
Pediatric Hematologist: These specialists treat blood-related diseases such as leukemia in children.
Pediatric Hematology Fellow: This is a pediatrician studying to be a pediatric hematologist.
Pediatric Oncologist: This is a children's hospital specialist who deals with oncology, or cancer treatment, in children.
Pediatric Oncology Fellow: This is a pediatrician studying at the children's hospital to become a pediatric oncologist.
Pediatric Resident: This is a doctor studying at the children's hospital to become a pediatrician.
Urologist: Urologists are specialists in the treatment of urinary tract diseases.

Oncology Surgeons and the Health Care Team

If the cancer treatment requires surgery, specialized surgeons may also be part of the health care team. Surgeons often found in children's hospitals include:

Neurosurgeons: These are specialists in brain and spinal cord surgery.
Orthopedic Surgeons: These are specialists in bone surgery.
Pediatric Surgeons: Pediatric surgeons specialize in surgery for children.
Thoracic Surgeons: These are specialists in chest cavity surgery.

Medical Support Staff and the Health Care Team

The medical support staff includes lab technicians and other skilled health care workers. During cancer treatment, patients and family may interact with several medical support team members, including:

Anesthesiologists: These are specialists in the administration of anesthesia and pain medication.
Pathologists: These are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis of disease through microscopic and laboratory examination.
Pharmacologists: These are experts in medicinal properties, drug interactions and side effects.
Radiation Therapists: These are doctors specially trained in the administration of radiation therapy cancer treatment.
Radiologists: These are experts in reading X-rays and other diagnostic images.

Nurses and the Health Care Team

Children's hospital nurses are important members of the health care team. In addition to assisting doctors and administering medication, children's hospital nurses provide support to patients and family, and educate families on cancer treatment. Nurses may include:

Oncology Clinical Nurse: This is a nurse with a master's degree in oncology nursing. Duties of oncology clinical nurses include preparation and administration of cancer treatment and patient support.
Registered Nurse: Registered nurses can administer medication and provide medical support (starts IVs, takes vital signs, etc.).
Licensed Practical Nurse: These nurses perform a number of tasks to support patient care and treatment.

Other Members of the Health Care Team

In addition to doctors, nurses and medical support staff, children's hospitals provide non-medical support for patients and their families. Support may come from:

Oncology Social Workers: These are social workers familiar with the emotional, practical and financial demands of pediatric cancer treatment.
Pediatric Psychologists: Pediatric psychologists provide counseling to patients, and may offer family therapy sessions.
Recreational Therapists: These are children's hospital therapists who help children maintain physical and emotional health by playing games.

Children's Hospitals and Cancer Treatment Centers

Below you'll find a list of children's hospitals and pediatric cancer treatment facilities in the United States. Consult the list to find the cancer treatment facility nearest you. Please note that the list isn't all-inclusive.

Consult your doctor if you can't find a local children's hospital on this list.

State	Children's Hospital/Cancer Treatment Center
Arizona	Phoenix Children's Hospital Good Samaritan Medical Center 909 E. Brill Street Phoenix, AZ 85006 University of Arizona Health Sciences Center Department of Pediatrics 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ 85724
California	Valley Children's Hospital 3151 N. Millbrook Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 Childrens Hospital Los Angeles University of Southern California Division of Hematology/Oncology #544650 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90054 Children's Hospital of Oakland University of California, San Francisco 52nd Street Oakland, CA 94609 Children's Hospital of Orange County 455 S. Main Street P.O. Box 5700, Orange, CA 92863-5700 Orange, CA 92868 Harbor/UCLA Medical Center Memorial Miller Children's Hospital Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology 1124 W. Carson Street Torrance, CA 90502 Children's Hospital and Health Center 3020 Children's Way, MC 5035 San Diego, CA 92123
Colorado	The Children's Hospital University of Denver 1056 19th Avenue Denver, CO 80218 Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center Childhood Hematology/Oncology Associates 1899 Williams Street Suite 300 Denver, CO 80218
District of Columbia	Children's National Medical Center George Washington University 111 Michigan Avenue Washington, DC 20010
Florida	All Children's Hospital 801 Sixth Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at Memorial 1150 N. 35th Avenue Suite 520 Hollywood, FL 33021 Miami Children's Hospital 6125 SW 31st Street Miami, FL 33155 The Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville 807 Nira Street Jacksonville, FL 32207 Nemours Children's Clinic, Orlando 83 West Columbia Street Orlando, FL 32806 Tampa Children's Hospital 3001 W. Dr. M.L. King Blvd. Tampa, FL 33607 The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida Lee Memorial Health System 9981 S. HealthPark Drive Ft. Meyers, FL 33908
Georgia	Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Hospital for Children 5455 Meridian Mark Road NE Suite 260 Atlanta,GA30342
Illinois	Children's Memorial Hospital at Chicago 2300 Children's Plaza Chicago, IL 60614 Advocate Hope Children's Hospital Christ Hospital and Medical Center 4440 West 95th Street Hope Children's Hospital Oak Lawn, IL 60453 The University of Chicago Children's Hospital University of Chicago 5841 S. Maryland MC 4060 Chicago, IL 60637 Lutheran General Children's Medical Center 1775 W. Dempster Street Park Ridge, IL 60068
Indiana	James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children Indiana University Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 702 Barnhill Drive Indianapolis, IN 46202
Iowa	Blank Children's Hospital 1200 Pleasant Street, Suite 430 Des Moines, IA 50309 Children's Hospital of Iowa University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 200 Hawkins Drive Iowa City, IA 52242
Kansas	University of Kansas Medical Center 3901 Rainbow Blvd. Kansas City, KS 66160
Kentucky	A.B. Chandler Medical Center University of Kentucky 800 Rose Street Lexington, KY 40536 Kosair-Children's Hospital University of Louisville Department of Pediatric Oncology 571 S. Floyd Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40202
Louisiana	Children's of New Orleans/LSUMC CCOP 200 Henry Clay Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 Tulane University Medical Center Pediatrics 1430 Tulane Avenue New Orleans, LA 70122
Maine	Maine Children's Cancer Program Maine Medical Center-Scarborough 100 US Route 1, Unit 107 Scarborough, ME 04074
Maryland	The Johns Hopkins Hospital CMSC RM 800 600 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21287 University of Maryland at Baltimore Pediatric Oncology/Hematology 22 S. Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Department of Pediatrics 2401 W. Belvedere Ave at Greenspring Baltimore, MD 21215
Massachusetts	Boston Floating Hospital for Infants and Children 750 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston Pediatric Oncology 44 Binney Street Boston, MA 02115
Michigan	Children's Hospital of Michigan Division of Hematology/Oncology 3901 Beaubien Blvd Detroit, MI 48201 C.S. Mott Children's Hospital University of Michigan Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 1500 E. Medical Center Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Minnesota	Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical School Department of Pediatrics 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN 55905 Children's Health Care-St. Paul Hematology/Oncology 345 North Smith Avenue St. Paul, MN 55102
Mississippi	University of Mississippi Medical Center Children's Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 2500 N. State Street Jackson, MS 39216
Montana	Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital 1465 South Grand Blvd St. Louis, MO 63104 The Children's Mercy Hospital University of Missouri Department of Pediatrics Hem-Onc 2401 Gillham Road Kansas City, MO 64108
Nebraska	Children's Hospital Creighton University-University of Nebraska Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 8301 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68114
Nevada	Sunrise Children's Hospital University of California, Los Angeles Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 3186 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89109
New Jersey	The Institute for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders The Cancer Institute of New Jersey 195 Little Albany Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901
New York	Babies Hospital College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University Division of Pediatric Oncology 630 W. 168th Street New York, NY 10032 Schneider Children's Hospital 271-16 76 Ave. New Hyde Park, NY 11042
North Carolina	Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Medical Health Center Memorial Mission Hospital 50 Doctors Drive Asheville, NC 28801
Ohio	Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Children's Hospital Medical Center University of Cincinnati Hematology/Oncology Division 3333 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229 Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Case Western Reserve University 11100 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106 Columbus Children's Hospital Ohio State University Department of Pediatric Hematology / Oncology 700 Children's Drive Columbus, OH 43205 The Children's Medical Center Payton 1 Children's Plaza Dayton, OH 45404
Oklahoma	Warren Clinic, Inc. Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 6161 S. Yale Avenue Tulsa, OK 74136
Oregon	Doernbecher Children's Hospital Oregon Health Sciences University Pediatric Oncology 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, OR 97201
Pennsylvania	The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Division of Oncology 324 S. 34th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Department of Pediatric Hematology - Oncology 3705 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Erie Ave. at Front Street Philadelphia, PA 19134
South Carolina	Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders University of South Carolina 7 Richland Medical Park Suite 203 Columbia, SC 29203 The Children's Hospital of the Greenville Hospital System 701 Grove Road Greenville, SC 29609
Tennessee	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis 332 N. Lauderdale Memphis, TN 38105 East Tennessee Children's Hospital Pediatric Hematology-Oncology P.O. Box 15010 Knoxville, TN 37901 Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Vanderbilt University Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 2200 Children's Way Nashville, TN 37232
Texas	Children's Hospital of North Texas at Medical City Dallas Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 7777 Forest Lane Dallas, TX 75230 Cook-Fort Worth Children's Medical Center Hematology-Oncology Department 801 Seventh Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104 Driscoll Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology 3533 South Alameda Corpus Christi, TX 78411 San Antonio Military Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/MNPO 2200 Bergquist Drive Suite 1 Lackland AFB, TX 78236 Texas Children's Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine 6621 Fannin Street MC 3-3320 Houston, TX 77030 Children's Hospital of Austin at Brackenridge Hospital 601 E. 15th., Box 48 Austin, TX 78701 Hodges Cancer Center at Methodist Children's Hospital 3606 21st Street Suite 106 Lubbock, TX 79410
Utah	Primary Children's Medical Center University of Utah Department of Hematology-Oncology 100 N. Medical Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84113
Virginia	The Carilion Medical Center for Children at Roanoke Community Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 101 Elm Avenue Roanoke, VA 24029
Washington	Children's Hospital and Medical Center University of Washington Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 4800 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98105 Mary Bridge Children's Hospital 316 South K Street Suite 212 Tacoma, WA 98405
Wisconsin	Midwest Children's Cancer Center MCW - Pediatrics 8701 Watertown Plank Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53226 University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital University of Wisconsin Department of Hematology-Oncology 600 Highland Avenue Madison, WI 53792

Resources

American Cancer Society (2007). Find a pediatric cancer center. Retrieved September 5, 2007, from the ACS Web site: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/FTC/ftc_0.asp?sitearea=ETO.

American Cancer Society (2007). When your child has cancer. Retrieved September 5, 2007, from the ACS Web site: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_2_6X_When_

Your_Child_Has_Cancer_7.asp.

Explore This Section:

Topics

Children's Hospital Staff and the Oncology Health Care Team

The Cancer Treatment Health Care Team

Pediatric and Oncology Specialists

Oncology Surgeons and the Health Care Team

Medical Support Staff and the Health Care Team

Nurses and the Health Care Team

Other Members of the Health Care Team

Children's Hospitals and Cancer Treatment Centers

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