NEWS
CJOC Office Updates
Important Information!
CJOC Office Changes for Procedures Regarding Telephones,
Triage Nursing, Prescription Refills and Scheduling of Appointments
We have recently implemented several changes in our offices to provide more efficient and timely care for our patients. We would like to share these important changes with you. Please click here to view the specifics.
We have implemented an enhanced telephone prompting system, enabling patients to reach the appropriate person at CJOC in a timely manner.
Our Triage Nurse is available from 8:45 am through 4:45 daily for patients who are experiencing symptoms and may need to see a physician, have a prescription called in or given other medical advice. To contact our Triage Nurse, please call our offices and follow the prompt to nursing.
If you are in need of prescription refills for medications dispensed through your local, mail order or the CJOC pharmacy, please see our Prescription Refill Policy.
It is necessary that patients have an appointment for every services they will receive at CJOC in advance. Please be sure to contact our office in advance of your visit to schedule a specific appointment time. Appointments must be scheduled in advance for all services, including laboratory testing.
We thank you for your cooperation regarding these new procedures, as they will assist us on our efforts to provide you with excellent medical care.
On-Site Pharmacy
We are pleased to announce that we have implemented an on-site pharmacy for the convenience of our patients. Many medications will be dispensed directly from our office, some of which you may be able to obtain the same day as your visit. Our program operates in the same manner as your local pharmacy in regard to insurance and co-payments. Click here to view a list of the medications currently available.
Tysabri Infusion Center
CJOC is now an infusion center for Tysabri, a prescription medicine for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients that slows disease progression and decreases flare-ups. It is also used to treat Crohn's Disease. This medication, which is not oncology or hematology-related, is given intravenously and patients may choose their own infusion center. Patients must enroll through their neurologist in the "TOUCH®" prescribing program, a restricted distribution program. Upon the receipt of information and approval for infusion from the TOUCH® program, CJOC will contact the patient to schedule an appointment for infusion. This service is available not only for our established patients, but for anyone outside of our practice in need of these infusions.
HOLD THE DATE! Friday, April 16th for the American Cancer Society's "Night of Wine & Roses" Gala
Co-chaired by Dr. Michael and Mrs. Marlene Nissenblatt, the ACS 24th annual Gala will be held Friday, April 16th at The Palace at Somerset Park. If you would like to make a donation or join us, please contact Kristen Apen of the ACS at 732.951.6307 or at kristen.apen@cancer.org.
NEWS: CJOC's Mammogram Screening Recommendations
The Preventative Services Task Force recently changed its recommendation for breast cancer screening. The Task Force now recommends screening mammograms, for average risk women, begin at age 50 and be performed every other year. The physicians of CJOC strongly believe in early detection and are particularly concerned that cancers in younger women may be more aggressive. Therefore, they will continue to stand by the gold standard of mammograms every 1-2 years starting at 40, and yearly after 50. Click here to view information on CJOC's mammogram screening recommendations.
EVENT: Please Join Us for Our 2009 CJOC Support Groups
Wednesdays: February 24th, March 31st, April 28th
Nurse Practitioner Meghan Coleman runs an in-house support group program for CJOC patients. Meghan is committed to helping patients deal with the physical as well as emotional aspects of cancer treatment. In 2001, she was selected by Governor Donald D. Francesco as the recipient of the Community Recognition Award for founding The Central Jersey Oncology Support Group. She received the Astra Zeneca "Vision of Hope" Award for her work with The CJOC Support Group in 2002. Please join us for these meetings, which are held the last Wednesday of each month, at 11:00 am in our East Brunswick office. For registration or information, please contact meghan_coleman@hotmail.com or at 732.390.7750.
EVENT: The Wellness Community's "Frankly Speaking About New Discoveries in Cancer" Workshop
Tuesday, March 23rd at Noon - Registration Required
Please join us for free educational workshops for men, women and their caregivers. CJOC's Dr. Michael J. Nissenblatt will address the group on Tuesday, March 23rd. He will be providing information on advanced and innovative treatments available for people living with cancer. In addition, Ellen Levine, LCSW and Program Director of The Wellness Community will provide tips on how to manage emotional distress and optimize your quality of life during and after cancer treatment. This two our program will begin with a light lunch at noon at our East Brunswick office. Those who have attended Wellness Community programs in the past are welcome to join us again, as each program is guided by a different CJOC physician and different topics are addressed. Please join us! To register or receive information on this and other support programs, contact The Wellness Community at 908.658.5400.
EVENT: The American Cancer Society's “Look Good…Feel Better” Program
Monday: April 19th at Noon - Registration Required
Look Good…Feel Better is a program offered by the American Cancer Society (ACS), in conjunction with the National Cosmetology Association and The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association. During this free program, volunteer cosmetologists guide women cancer patients on matters related to the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. CJOC will be hosting this program in our East Brunswick office. The ACS has a limited number of the cosmetic kits donated for distribution. Participants are welcome to return to the program for a second time to hear the advice of the cosmetologist, but must bring their cosmetic kit with them, as all participants may receive only one kit. To register, please call the ACS at 1.800.ACS.2345, option #4.
NEWS: The Amy Foundation
In 2008, The Amy Foundation was established in memory of Amy Fieman Behar. Partnered with Saint Peter's University Hospital, this Foundation was established to enable women without health insurance to obtain free screening mammograms. CJOC's Dr. James C. Salwitz is a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. We invite you to join this wonderful organization and support their efforts to make a difference.
NEWS: The Challah Fund
In 1994, Dr. Michael J. Nissenblatt founded The Challah Foundation. The mission of The Challah Foundation is to create a sense of spirit, human compassion, resilience, and motivation through the gift of Challah, a symbol of life. Volunteers deliver Challah bread weekly to cancer patients of all faiths at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter’s University Hospital. This organization has brought comfort and hope to many.
