Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program

Frequent trips to Indianapolis were routine for Michiana children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders. But today, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program at Memorial Children’s Hospital provides many of the same essential services close to home.

Memorial's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology clinical staff is a comprehensive team, which includes a pediatric nurse practitioner, nurses, social services staff and a parent advocate. Together, they offer children and their families personal counseling, psychological support and coordination of treatment to minimize the impact of a chronic disease on daily life.

Services include:

• Chemotherapy: Patients receive chemotherapy both in the outpatient department and on the inpatient pediatric floor. Treatments are given by chemotherapy-certified nursing personnel and are overseen by a board-certified pediatric oncologist. Many patients receive treatments as part of clinical trials of the Children’s Oncology Group or other clinical research consortia.
• Sickle Cell Therapy: Ongoing monitoring of children and adolescents with all forms of sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other hemoglobinopathies, as well as management of acute complications.
• Blood transfusions: Transfusions of packed erythrocytes, platelets and other blood products as needed for cancer patients and those with transfusion-dependent anemias.
• Specialized hematology testing: Evaluation and management of patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and other hematologic disorders.
• Teaching and school outreach: Providing education for patients, families, nursing students, medical students and residents, health care providers and other interested groups.
• Radiation Therapy: Provided by radiation oncologists at the Memorial Cancer Center. Some patients may travel to Indiana University in Indianapolis or Bloomington for special radiation oncology needs.
• Hemophilia management: Working in conjunction with the Indiana Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center (IHTC), children and adolescents with all types of bleeding disorders and thrombophila are evaluated and treated. Members of the IHTC conduct periodic specialized, multidisciplinary outreach clinics.
• Nutritional counseling: Nutritional complications are common in children with cancer or severe blood disorders. Nutritional surveillance and support is provided as part of routine care, in consultation with nutritional support staff.
• Pediatric oncology support group
• Bereavement services
• Family activities

To date, the program has served more than 300 children and their families with medical services, referrals and emotional support. An added benefit of the center is the Parent Advocate, who helps parents understand their child's disease and coordinates services for families who need them.