M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Date: August 2010
Duration: 5:45
The decision about where to be treated for cancer is one of the most important you will make, especially if it means traveling far from home. MD Anderson offers everything you need—decades of experience, a total focus on cancer, teams of world-class professionals and a deep commitment to every patient’s comfort—to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
The first order of business for a patient usually is to find a place to stay and to arrange transportation. Many hotels and motels are located near the Texas Medical Center, and some offer reduced rates for patients and free transportation to and from MD Anderson. The Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International Hotel, connected to MD Anderson by sky bridges, is dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of MD Anderson patients and their families.
After arriving at MD Anderson, a patient can park in one of four adjacent parking garages. Valet parking can be found at the entrances to both the Main Building and the Mays Clinic and is free on the day of the first visit. There are several ways to travel back and forth between MD Anderson’s buildings, when necessary. Shuttle buses are available, or people can walk across Holcombe Blvd. on one of the pedestrian sky bridges. The sky bridge from the Main Building to the Mays Clinic offers motorized carts that run back and forth with stops at the Faculty Center and Pickens Tower for patients staying at the Rotary House Hotel.
Each MD Anderson patient is assigned to a multidisciplinary care center, which specializes in his or her particular type of cancer. Each center brings together in one location many of the people and services needed to provide a patient’s care.
In addition to a patient’s team of physicians, nurses, pathologists, radiologists, pharmacists and dieticians, there are also case managers, social workers and patient advocates. The case managers help patients coordinate medical and financial information, including insurance benefits. The social worker helps identify community resources for the patient, including housing, transportation or support groups. Patient advocates act as the patient’s representative concerning any problems the patient might encounter at MD Anderson.
For patients from outside the United States, understanding how an American hospital works can be a challenge. The International Center offers a variety of services to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of international patients. For patients whose first language is not English, Language Assistance can provide translators and interpreters in nine languages to help with communication.
Education plays an important part in MD Anderson’s mission. The Learning Center is a free consumer health library that offers up-to-date information about cancer and health-related topics. It has four branches, where patients can go to do research about cancer-related topics. They are located in the Main Building, the Rotary House Hotel, the Mays Clinic and the Proton Therapy Center. The Patient and Family Library in the Main Building offers several types of reading materials, including books, magazines and newspapers, as well as audiocassettes and tape recorders.
For shopping convenience, there are gift shops throughout the institution, including a retail shop in the Mays Clinic called Appearances, which offers specialty items for cancer patients such as breast prostheses and head coverings.
Working alongside the staff to provide a caring, supportive presence for patients are the Cancer Center’s 1,300 volunteers, often called the “heart” of MD Anderson. Volunteers work in many areas, from direct patient contact to areas such as the pharmacy or laboratories, where specialized skills are needed.
The Anderson Network is an organization of current and former cancer patients and their caregivers, who provide support for each other. Through the Anderson Network, a patient can be linked up with other patients with the same diagnosis. The Network also sponsors two Hospitality Centers, one in the Main Building and one in the Mays Clinic, where patients can drop in for a cup of coffee and a visit, or just to relax.
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can present spiritual challenges. MD Anderson chaplains, representing a broad range of religious beliefs and denominations, are a great source of strength to patients and families. Chaplains are available for counseling and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Freeman Dunn Chapel is the site of worship services where people of all beliefs can come to meditate and pray. Other interfaith prayer and meditation rooms are located throughout the institution.
And finally… the Place…of wellness is an environment where all persons touched by cancer may enhance quality of life through complementary therapy programs that include yoga, meditation and nutrition classes as well as acupuncture and massage services. With locations in both the Main Building and the Mays Clinic, activities are designed to promote the healing abilities of the body, mind and spirit.
Our approach really takes the whole “you” into account. And there is no shortage of smiling faces waiting to help you when you arrive. Take a moment to learn more about our services and amenities by visiting the “Learn more about” section on the right side of this page. When you’re ready, we can continue the tour. Just click the link below.
© 2010 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030
1-800-392-1611 (USA) / 1-713-792-6161