Our Daily Show Interview! OSF Healthcare Rapid Diagnosis Clinic
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ALTON - Patients facing a cancer diagnosis no longer have to wait weeks or months to get results.
OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center has launched its new Rapid Diagnosis Clinic through the Moeller Cancer Center. Two healthcare workers explained how the clinic works, when patients should utilize it, and the ways in which early detection can spare lives — and a lot of anxiety.
“A rapid diagnosis clinic is exactly what the name is, trying to get you a diagnosis as rapidly as possible,” said Brandy Baxley, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Oncology Services. “We do everything in our power to get you in to see us as quickly as possible. Any testing that you need, any labs that you need, we get them done as quickly as we can.”
Baxley and Dana Matesa, RN, Rapid Diagnosis Clinic Care Coordinator, understand that waiting for tests and procedures can give patients “a lot of anxiety,” especially when potentially facing a cancer diagnosis.
Now, as soon as a doctor notices an abnormality in a test or lab, they will refer you to the Rapid Diagnosis Clinic so Matesa can schedule further testing as soon as possible, sometimes even on the same day.
Many patients come to the Rapid Diagnosis Clinic through the emergency room. An ER doctor might flag an abnormality and refer the patient to the RDC.
Others are referred by their primary care doctors. Matesa noted she can also help those without primary care doctors get connected with a physician.
“I think we’re seeing that big need for the patients who don’t have primary cares. We have a big majority that do not have primary cares,” she said. “So you get them through the emergency room, and then you kind of take that part a step farther and get them in, and they leave with those appointments. I’ll set them up with a primary care to establish care in their area, so that’s a huge piece too.”
Patients can even self-refer. Matesa encourages anyone who suspects cancer to go ahead and give her a call. She can either help you through the RDC or direct you toward your next step if your symptoms don’t qualify.
Because the Rapid Diagnosis Clinic aims to catch cancer early, many patients have few symptoms when they present at the clinic. Matesa and Baxley noted that some symptoms to look for include excessive fatigue, unexplained weight loss, a persistent cough, hoarseness, changes in bowels and more.
“Patients are coming in and being diagnosed with very minimal symptoms,” Baxley said. “The sooner you are in, the sooner you are seen, the sooner you are diagnosed, the better you’re going to be and the better your outcome is going to be.”
If it’s determined that treatment is needed, the RDC will refer you to oncologist Dr. Manpreet K. Sandhu. Baxley and Matesa noted that Sandhu displays “compassion out of this world,” as does the rest of the team at the Moeller Cancer Center.
As the Rapid Diagnosis Clinic expands, Baxley and Matesa urge patients to let them help. If your doctor catches an abnormality or if you suspect something is just not right, they encourage you to reach out. You can contact Matesa directly at 618-433-7607 to self-refer or ask questions.
For more information about OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center, visit their official webpage.
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