Joanne Ballerini Guides Danbury Hospital’s Cancer Patients

Through The Rough Spots

To receive a cancer diagnosis is devastating. Add to that having to navigate a complex and lengthy treatment plan. For these reasons, Danbury Hospital appointed Joanne Ballerini, a specially trained oncology nurse, as cancer care coordinator.

 In the position for four years, Ms Ballerini’s job is not dissimilar to that of a concierge — coordinating and ensuring that everything goes smoothly, right down to the last detail.

“When someone is diagnosed with cancer, there are many different disciplines involved — medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgery, to name a few,” she said. “And there are different phases of treatment. It’s my job to simplify that process by acting as a liaison and resource for patients and their families throughout their care. As one doctor said to me, ‘Patients see their doctors for their medical needs. You do the other stuff.’”

The “stuff” to which that doctor referred is varied and oftentimes geared to meet a patient’s special needs. For example, some people do not even know where to begin, so she helps get them started by arranging appointments or transportation. She also assists with financial issues and insurance, and directs patients to the appropriate resources. She connects patients to support programs to deal with the emotional side of cancer. One of them is Bridges, a breast cancer support network that connects newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to breast cancer survivors. And she oversees 12 hospital volunteers, most of them cancer survivors, who provide support and assist patients in the Praxair Cancer Center Resource Room, a place where patients can go to obtain information about their disease and its effects on them.

Providing Comfort

A major part of Joanne Ballerini’s role is that of providing support and comfort.

“People are so scared when they are told they have cancer, they only remember about 25 percent of what they hear from their doctors,” she said. “I can help sort through the questions they may have and clarify the information. Basically, if someone is feeling overwhelmed, lost, or doesn’t know where to turn, my role is to help.”

Ms Ballerini calls those in need of a friendly voice, meets with families to give them guidance, or may accompany frightened patients to their first chemotherapy treatments so they do not have to go alone.

She remembers a homeless man who was referred to her by his pulmonologist. Diagnosed with lung cancer, he came to her without a dime, a place to lay his head, or a person who cared for or about him. She immediately took him under her wing, found him shelter, and even went with him for a bone marrow biopsy.

“Essentially, I became a buddy,” she said. “I noticed that once he saw that someone cared about him, he cared, too. I gave him food when it was available and an elderly gentleman in the community gave him rides to and from the hospital in the sidecar of his motorcycle. In the end, he didn’t beat the cancer, but he died knowing we did everything we could to help him.”

Lifting Spirits

Ms Ballerini says patients like this man, as well as her coworkers, help get her through the day.

“Our patients’ spirits carry us,” she said. “How they handle themselves in the most stressful times is inspirational. I feel privileged to meet them in my lifetime.

“I’m also blessed to work with some wonderful people,” she added. “We rely on each other to work through difficult times, which is not always easy to do. We laugh a lot. We find light in many things. We try to carry that light to others.”

Dr. John Pezzimenti, oncologist in the Praxair Cancer Center, says Joanne lifts his spirits. “If I’m feeling a little low, I just see her and she makes me smile,” he says. “We couldn’t have a better person for our patients, who often have to go through a maze of tests during the course of their treatment. She’s a great guide for them, and a great person.”

Ms Ballerini came to her position with 20 years of experience in oncology, both as a nurse and as a case manager. She recently put her expertise into developing a class for preoperative breast cancer patients. The class focuses on helping patients understand what to expect before, during, and after surgery, and offers relaxation techniques and pain management tips.

Rounding out Danbury Hospital’s Cancer Center Support Services are Pat Hough, RN, manager of the Cancer Center; Susan Gran, RN, oncology research coordinator; Ana Bahia, breast care coordinator; Renate Tryon, CTR; Kathy Gannon and Lillian Monaghan, and two staff members who work closely with them, Joan Mills, a licensed clinical social worker, and Peggy Gilmore, RN, complementary medicine coordinator.