State-of-the art comprehensive care

James Fahner, MD, talks about the nationally-recognized pediatric cancer team at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Our children's cancer specialists know that treating a child is very different than treating an adult, so we have an entire multidisciplinary care team who work with patients in the hospital and in our outpatient clinic to help make treatment as kid-friendly as possible. We offer the services of child life specialists and the Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (P.O.R.T) to help meet the complex needs of our patients and families. Our specialists have expert knowledge in treating a variety of conditions, including:

Our pediatric hematology/oncology team is led by a dedicated group of board-certified physicians with expertise in pediatric hematology/oncology, internal medicine and pediatrics. As a teaching hospital, physicians are sometimes accompanied by fellows, residents or medical students. We work closely with colleagues from many specialties across Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, including radiation oncologists and pediatric intensive care physicians.

We have a floor specifically for inpatient oncology care. Care is directed by physicians who round daily and provided by nurses and nurse technicians. Most of our nurses are certified pediatric hematology oncology nurses, a national recognition of their additional training and expertise in caring for children with cancer. We have certified child life specialists and assistants who support patients, families and siblings through diagnosis and treatment, as well as engage children through play and music therapy. To help children keep up with academically while in the hospital for an extended time, we have a school program led by a Michigan-certified teacher. 

For the health and safety of our patients on the oncology floor, all visitors are required to participate in a healthy visitor screening before they enter the unit.