Clinical phone numbers
Voice: 314-454-6018
Fax: 844-621-4392
Introduction
The division offers a full range of clinical services for pediatric patients and draws from a population of more than 2 million in the greater St. Louis area, with additional referrals from surrounding Missouri, Illinois and throughout the Midwest. We care for more than 150 new oncology patients each year and evaluate more than 300 new hematology patients per year, resulting in more than 600 children who are actively followed and treated by the division.
Care for our patients is provided at St. Louis Childrens’ Hospital, one the top pediatric facilities in the country. The outpatient Hematology/Oncology unit meets regularly five days per week, and generally 30 to 40 patients are seen per day (more than 12,000 outpatient visits per year). A senior hematology/oncology physician supervises each clinic day. In addition, two clinical fellows and three to four pediatric advanced practice nurses participate in each outpatient clinic session. Patients receive state of the art care by a skilled multidisciplinary team (attending physicians, fellows, nurses, social workers, psychologists, dieticians and others) providing comprehensive management for the patients and their families. Our nursing staff includes individuals with advanced training and extensive experience in the management of cancer and hematology disorders. Additional support services include an educational-liaison specialist and a child life specialist.
The program has a long-standing history as a leader in pediatric oncology. Headquarters of the original Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) the division remains at the highest levels of cooperative group participation holding several national leadership positions. We also follow more than 450 patients with sickle cell disease and are actively participating in national trials striving to improve the treatment of this condition. Weekly clinical conferences include Tumor Board, a hematology/oncology case discussion integrated with the adult hematology/oncology service, and the Pediatric Research Seminar and Pediatric Grand Rounds.
The inpatient service consists of a daily average census of 30-40 patients hospitalized for diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and the management of any complications, or other pathological processes. The inpatient team consists of a full-time attending physician in hematology/oncology, clinical fellows, clinical nurse specialists, nurses, clinical psychologist, social workers, clinical pharmacist, child life specialists and a hospital chaplain.
All of the activities of the division are supported by expert pediatric-dedicated clinical laboratories, hematology laboratories, and a blood bank located on site providing prompt diagnostic and therapeutic support, thus optimizing patient care.
The unit prides itself on the interactive environment and team approach to the care of its patients. The nurse specialists, psychologists, social workers and educational specialist function as integral members of the management team for both acutely ill patients and patients undergoing long-term care. The terminally ill child is one who deserves special and concentrated attention provided by all members of the care team, as the unit also provides medical support for the only pediatric hospice service in the region.