Henry Ford Health has announced a $2 million gift from philanthropists Shari and Stanley Finsilver to establish the Shari & Stanley Finsilver and Family OncoStat, a program to provides cancer patients same-day support for the side effects and symptoms of treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, or dehydration.
Patients now can access real-time support through phone consultations, in-person visits at various locations, or virtual appointments via Henry Ford’s MyChart portal.
OncoStat’s team of oncology-trained advanced practice providers and nurses will fast track blood work and imaging tests, and provide medications, infusions, or other treatments to help patients feel better as quickly and safely as possible.
According to Henry Ford Health, OncoStat has proven to be a critical resource for cancer patients, and the Finsilvers’ gift enables the health system to expand the program to reach more patients when and where they need it most.
OncoStat currently is available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays, which are recently added expanded hours of operation.
“We are profoundly grateful to Shari and Stan for their continued generosity and leadership in support of Henry Ford Health, and especially our cancer care services,” says Mary Jane Vogt, executive vice president and chief development officer at Henry Ford Health.
“Their generous gift has already helped make this vital care option even more accessible and will continue to greatly benefit our patients for years to come. I can think of no better way to celebrate this tremendous impact than naming this unique program in their honor.”
Over the next three years, the gift will be used to help improve patient care, including investing in resources that strengthen operational efficiencies, increasing patient access through expanded hours of operation and regional presence, and supporting novel cancer research through patient reported outcomes.
The most recent gift to Henry Ford Health follows a separate fundraising initiative that established the Lindsey and Brett Finsilver HIPEC Program in honor of Lindsey Finsilver, wife of Shari and Stanley’s son, Brett. She led a campaign to raise $1.5 million for creating a comprehensive HIPEC program at Henry Ford Cancer before she passed away in December 2016 following a battle against a rare form of appendix cancer.
“The Finsilvers have been incredible partners to Henry Ford Health,” says Dr. David Kwon, deputy director of surgical oncology at Henry Ford Cancer. “From helping to drive a community initiative that allowed us to bring the Lindsey & Brett Finsilver HIPEC program to Henry Ford, to this incredible gift that will establish the Shari & Stanley Finsilver and Family OncoStat, we are grateful for the impact that they are having on our ability to provide comprehensive care to all we serve.”
One of the ways Henry Ford aims to enhance OncoStat is using the power of patient reported outcomes (PRO) scores to get ahead of cancer treatment side effect symptoms before they escalate. By responding early to signals in PRO scores that indicate concern, Henry Ford clinicians can move beyond providing a reactive response to cancer treatment side effects and more toward a proactive approach.
Addressing potential cancer side effects before they escalate should help improve the care experience for patients.
“Being able to help the team achieve their vision for an expanded OncoStat and the impact that will have on not only patients at Henry Ford, but also in our larger community, is very meaningful for us,” says Stan Finsilver. “We’re glad to be a part of Henry Ford Health’s commitment to advancing cancer medicine and patient care.”
To learn more about the Shari & Stanley Finsilver and Family OncoStat at Henry Ford Cancer, visit henryford.com/oncostat.
