UA, DCH Partner On Supportive Care Clinic At Manderson Cancer Center

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing and DCH Health System on Tuesday announced the launch of a Supportive Care Clinic at the Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center.

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The clinic aims to fill a critical need for patients in the West Alabama community by providing specialized medical care while educating patients, caregivers, students, medical professionals and the community on caring for patients with serious illnesses.

DCH Health System says the model integrates a diverse team of health care professionals, including medical oncologists, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, navigators and nutritionists.

The clinic will be led by Dr. Kristi Acker, associate professor at the Capstone College of Nursing and oncology and a palliative certified nurse practitioner.

“Patients with complex health concerns, like cancer, require specialty care that addresses not only physical needs but also emotional, financial and spiritual needs,” Acker said. “This partnership offers an exciting opportunity to meet the challenges faced by our oncology community while training the nursing workforce to care for complex patient populations.”

The academic-practice clinic model enhances patient access to care and will provide more than 350 UA nursing students with unique clinical experiences.

“The palliative care clinic was one of the most unique and meaningful experiences in all of my nursing education,” said Luke Aguayo, a senior UA nursing student. “It truly encompassed every aspect of nursing care — from advocacy and the full use of the nursing process to the development of leadership skills. ... This type of clinical experience offers a comprehensive model for future nursing education, bridging lecture with practice in a way that will help future nursing classes navigate health care."

The collaboration between UA and DCH will also serve as a model for clinical research, education and future replication nationwide, with researchers studying the outcomes of this integrated approach to care.

“By leveraging the resources of these two esteemed organizations, the Supportive Care Clinic offers a strategic blueprint for growing the nursing workforce in oncology and beyond, while prioritizing improved patient outcomes,” Acker said.

The Supportive Care Program is currently available for patients at the Manderson Cancer Center, and DCH says it plans to expand access to more patient populations in the near future.

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