Dr Hancock’s Blog

31/8/2012

 

Friends, patients and colleagues,

It is almost 3 weeks since my arrival here, working at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center.

I’m amazed at the friendly reception that I have received.

The Unit is less than 5 years old and is spacious, spotlessly clean and very high tech.

I spend most of my time in the Stem Cell Transplant Unit, where there is world-renowned treatment, especially in GU cancer; covering testes, bladder & prostate.

My main tutors are professors Einhorn,  Arbonour & Farak, all sometime immigrants from Europe, Syria & Egypt.

I now know what "Don’t stop or stand" means; can avoid steaming-hot manholes in the street, can take a sky-walk between buildings and know all about driving a dozer!

Patient care is superb, with Nurses supported by Nurse Practitioners, Physician’s Assistants and Clinical Pharmacologists.  Doctors range from all sorts of Professors, Physicians, Fellows and Residents.

 Blood is taken routinely at 4am, for the results to be ready for the ward rounds that start at 7am. The computer controls each pill that is given via bar codes and will flag every omission or potential overdose, most important with the complex cancer protocols often used.

Drugs, blood products etc., whizz around the hospital departments in a system that I last saw delivering cash to a central payment clerk in old Department stores!

The weather is in the lower 30s but we are threatened by the backlash of Hurricane Isaac this weekend.

I shall write separately about the Clinic aspects, on my return.

Must rush off to a Cancer Grand Round!

Best wishes

Robert Hancock

 

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