Catawba Valley Comprehensive Community Cancer Center

Outstanding Cancer Care

The CVMC Cancer Center was the first in the area to achieve accreditation from the American College of Surgeons as a comprehensive community hospital cancer program – making us one of just over 1,400 cancer programs to receive this honor in the United States. This translates into an outstanding continuum of care that includes leading edge diagnosis and treatment, talented staff and modern medical equipment and support.

Comprehensive Community Cancer Center Services

• Inpatient Oncology Unit - This specialty unit is staffed by registered nurses who have received extensive training focused on cancer care and chemotherapy administration through the Oncology Nursing Society. This specialized care is provided for cancer patients, from newly diagnosed to palliation, in private, home-like rooms. The Inpatient Oncology Unit also provides care for patients with hematological disorders.
• Screenings and Seminars – CVMC Health First Center offers regular information sessions and cancer screenings for breast cancer, skin cancer and lung cancer for early detection - our most important step in the fight against the disease. Health First also maintains a list of current guidelines from the American Cancer Society for both men and women including recommendations for cervical cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
• Psychosocial Assessment – An oncology clinical social worker assists the oncology staff in assessing psychosocial needs of inpatient and outpatient cancer patients upon arrival to identify needs and recommend services, such as Spiritual Care, support groups, transition programs, and palliative medicine or hospice services.
• Patient Care Managers – Registered nurses and medical social workers identify services to meet ongoing patient and family needs such as counseling and financial assistance.
• Dedicated Cancer Nurse Navigators – Nurse Navigators are experienced oncology nurses with extensive knowledge of cancer, cancer treatments, and local community resources available to patients and their families. Nurse Navigators are available to assist patients and families at any point during their cancer journey.
• Pathology – Pathologists from Piedmont Pathology provide 24-hour service for intraoperative frozen section diagnoses, reports on tissue biopsies, and resection specimens to determine malignancies; the size and type of cancer; grading and staging of the tumor; and molecular features of the tumor.
• Laboratory Services – CVMC’s clinical laboratory performs diagnostic testing and monitoring, including blood tests, chemical analysis, microbiological services and blood bank services. The lab is Joint Commission-accredited and CAP (College of American Pathologists) certified with distinction; the Blood Bank is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks.
• Multidisciplinary Team – Multidisciplinary team meetings allow the oncology staff to discuss information about patients, determine treatment and identify discharge needs.
• Pharmacy – CVMC's main pharmacy operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Cancer Center is supported by a dedicated pharmacy staff specially trained to prepare and safely distribute chemotherapy, biotherapy, and many other treatments used in the infusion center.
• Spiritual Care – Chaplains are available as needed to assure that spiritual and emotional support are available to help cancer patients and their families find the strength, comfort, hope and meaning they need to transcend the challenges of the illnesses they face. Our Parish Nursing program provides patients with assistance in meeting treatment appointments, in clarifying possible side effects and expectations of treatment, providing spiritual support from the patient’s traditional faith, and offering support with any necessary lifestyle modifications.
• Nutrition Care Services – Provides food and nutrition services specially designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of oncology patients. This department ensures that each patient receives adequate oral intake to meet individual nutritional needs.