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New Patient Resource Center offers support and assistance for people dealing with cancer
The Great Lakes Division recently opened the Patient Resource Center (PRC), a designated call center of highly trained staff that serves as the centralized location for individualized basic patient assistance and program and resource referral.

The PRC serves the needs of constituents beyond the services available through the National Cancer Information Center (NCIC). The PRC provides direct assistance to callers and ensures timely and high quality service by centralizing the fulfillment of patient related service requests.

Other divisions have developed centralized locations such as the PRC, and these facilities have proven that a designated call center is a valuable resource that provides patients with high quality, individualized assistance and support. The Great Lakes Division’s Patient Resource Center began servicing patients with the roll-on of the Ft. Wayne area service center in March. All service centers were successfully rolled on by July 2.

The PRC will build relationships with each cancer patient, survivor, and caregiver by providing continual support and resources to meet their evolving needs along their cancer journey.

One resource that is available through the PRC is the Personal Health Manager (PHM). The Personal Health Manager kit is a sturdy plastic case that is filled with information specific to each patient’s cancer, as well as the Society’s programs and services. This care management tool helps patients organize and manage the information that they receive from their health care provider, treatment facility, ACS, and other sources. 

In a recent conversation with a patient receiving treatment for lung cancer, a Resource Coordinator had the opportunity to offer the man a Personal Health Manager kit. The kit included information on lung cancer, a booklet about treatment, a booklet on nutrition, and brochures on other ACS programs and services discussed with the patient, such as Road to Recovery. He was very grateful for the information and mentioned he was a volunteer for ACS’s Notes to Neighbors program. "Now I know why I’ve been donating to the American Cancer Society all these years," he said. "This information is great and I never knew it was available."

The American Cancer Society is here to help and can do so by:

• Providing accurate, reliable and timely information about cancer and treatment options
• Providing resources and referrals to help during the treatment process
• Teaching skills that will facilitate communication between patient/caregiver and their healthcare provider(s)
• Providing an opportunity to interact with cancer survivors and staff who can offer support during this time

If you or someone you know needs assistance, support, or resources, please call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

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