Preparing for Your Visit
We are committed to providing accessible, responsive, coordinated care for all of our patients. This coordination begins when a patient contacts us for the very first time and Teresa Barry, operations manager, schedules a first visit.
Teresa Barry, Operations ManagerBefore the First Visit
Patients need to gather information and test results before their first visit to the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology. Teresa works with patients to identify what they will need to bring and provides guidance on how to gather the items--often obtaining the necessary information prior to the scheduled visit.
We understand that it can be a burden for patients to gather their own pathology slides. When possible, Teresa assists with this process and obtains patients’ outside pathology slides for review by our pathologists prior to the initial visit.
Before Treatment
Patients frequently need to undergo a range of tests and see several physicians before a treatment plan is developed. Teresa works to schedule these appointments as efficiently and conveniently as possible. After the appointments have been scheduled, Teresa provides each patient with detailed, personalized information about their upcoming visit, including:
- Driving, parking and facility directions so patients know exactly where to go and how to get there
- Information on the types of appointments and tests a patient will have and how to prepare for them, if preparation is required
- Who the patient will see and direct contact information for at least one member of the patient’s care team
When patients arrive, Teresa escorts them to their first appointment and provides a mini tour of the medical center’s outpatient and inpatient facilities. She is also available to assist patients during the day.
In most cases, the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology team formulates a treatment plan at the completion of the visit and the patient is introduced to team members who will play an important role in their care.
Ongoing Assistance
As patients progress through their treatment, they and their families develop close partnerships with the nurses and physicians on their care team. Teresa is also available to assist with scheduling and other logistics, when needed.
