MISSION STATEMENT/PHILOSOPHY:
Joliet Oncology-Hematology Associates, Ltd. strives to continually improve the quality of life of our cancer patients; to provide patients with the highest quality of cancer care in an open supportive and compassionate environment; to support families throughout the illness-wellness continuum; to provide advanced oncology services through offering academic research protocols in the community; to serve as a liaison for the community in cancer prevention and early detection programs; and to establish our office as a community research
LOCATION(S):
We have three full locations in Illinois, our main office located in Joliet, and our other offices are in Morris and New Lenox.
We offer satellite clinics under an arrangement with hospitals and/or the Women’s Centers in Bourbonnais, Plainfield and New Lenox.
PRACTICE DETAILS :
We have 11 board certified medical oncologists/hematologists, 2 mid-level practitioners, and 2 contracted radiation oncologists. We have two Nurse Navigators staffed to work specifically with breast, lung and colon cancer patients.
QUALIFICATIONS/CREDENTIALS:
We are QOPI Certified.
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY SERVICES STAFF
We have 4 Pharmacists at 3 different locations along with 7 technicians. We hope to meet all of our patients medicinal needs that encompass both treatment and supportive care. Working hand in hand with the doctors, our patients get the most efficient care possible. Specifically when a patient is prescribed a new oral oncolytic, we begin the prior authorization and financial investigation process immediately. Depending on the insurance, we work to get them the medication at the lowest possible price. Before they leave the building on day 1, our goal is to have the patient consented and educated on their medication, and have their medication in hand. If we are not able to dispense that medication that day, the patient will at the very least have idea of what they are expecting to pay.
DISPENSING TYPE:
Joliet and Morris have dispensing pharmacies and the New Lenox office will be adding a pharmacy in June.
SERVICES PROVIDED
We offer on-site chemotherapy and supportive care Infusions along with radiation therapy (Tomotherapy, IMRT and High Dose Radiation), imaging (PE/CT, CT and X-Ray), and a full service lab. Because diet and nutrition play a vital role in health care for our patients, we have a Dietician for one on one support and education. Patients can shop at our boutique, Reflections, which offers a selection of wigs and prosthetics.
The JOHA Foundation was set up to help support our patients’ financial needs. See below for a list of areas the Foundation can assist with:
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RX ASSISTANCE – Provides financial assistance to underinsured patients who need prescription medication and/or prescription orthotics (examples: wigs, forms) relating to their cancer diagnosis.
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NUTRITION ASSISTANCE – Provides financial assistance to cancer patients who are unable to financially support their nutritional needs.
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HOUSING ASSISTANCE – Provides financial assistance to cancer patients that need temporary housing arrangements close to the location in which they are currently undergoing treatment at.
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MISCELLANEOUS ASSISTANCE – Provides financial assistance for miscellaneous types of needs that are necessary to continue cancer treatment.
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PREMIUM ASSISTANCE LOAN – Provides financial assistance as a non-interest bearing loan, to cover the cost of a cancer patient’s monthly insurance premium or COBRA payment to ensure the cancer patient receives the same level of continued covered care while undergoing treatment.
WHY DID YOU JOIN NCODA?
We joined NCODA to help increase our voice in the oncology specialty pharmacy world. Being inNCODA will allow us to learn and implement better processes to help us improve our ability to take care of our patients. The changing payment models and increasing PBM specialty pharmacies makes it more imperative to align ourselves with a group such as NCODA.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A MEMBER?
We became a member after meeting the team at the CARETMD meeting in March 2016
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US?
Through Mike Reff in March 2016
HOW CAN NCODA HELP YOU?
NCODA can help us by connecting us with other similar groups who face the same challenges we do. Providing us with useful ideas to help us better serve our patients and at the same time continue to make in-office dispensing affordable.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH NCODA?
Personally I would like to be involved as much as possible with NCODA. The more involvement will most definitely improve our practice by educating me. The better NCODA does, we all do better. In the end it will positively affect our patients.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW OR WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE OF ONCOLOGY?
There are many challenges, from new medications to changing payor landscape. The very real challenge is getting our patients affordable medication. With our population increasing in age, we have a higher Medicare population. With more people on Medicare, the more funding that will be necessary to gain access to medications for our patients. On the business side, the decreasing access to networks has a real impact on the feasibility of providing the service we provide.
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