Centers of Excellence

Committed to Outstanding Care

ThedaCare provides comprehensive cancer care and hematological services to treat all types of cancer and blood disorders — a commitment supported through our Centers of Excellence. Centers of Excellence (CoEs) are defined simply as a team, facility or organization that provides leadership, best practices, research and training for a focus area. A tumor site-specific center of excellence is not just focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients—it focuses on the entire continuum of care as illustrated below:

ThedaCare Cancer Care is home to five tumor site-specific Centers of Excellence:

Hematologic Malignancies
Head and Neck Cancer
GI Cancer
Thoracic (Lung) Cancer
Breast Cancer

ThedaCare is currently evaluating the development of additional tumor site-specific CoEs including those dedicated to genitourinary, sarcoma, gynecological and skin cancers. We are also exploring additional supportive services for cancer patients, such as cardio-oncology which features collaboration between cancer specialists and cardiologists to screen, diagnose and optimize treatment of heart disease in cancer patients before, during and after cancer treatment.

Centers of Excellence Give Our Patients:

Access to World-Class Specialists

Seeking treatment from an accredited program means patients will have access to world-class doctors, nurses and other professionals across many specialties (including our partners at Mayo Clinic) — all working together to bring the highest-quality, most comprehensive and specialized care possible. Each member of the multidisciplinary CoE care team — including the primary physician and partnering advanced practice clinicians — is specially trained and certified on the patient’s specific condition and work together to develop a focused and customized plan of care. ThedaCare also has a dedicated hematologic malignancy tumor board comprising a multidisciplinary team of hematologists, hematopathologists, palliative care and representatives from our clinical research team.

A Full Range of Services

Each CoE offers a full range of services tailored to meet patients’ needs, from wellness services and screenings to the most advanced care for the most severe cases.

An Exceptional Patient Experience

From the start of a patient’s healthcare journey through treatment and into recovery, the CoE team will be at their side every step of the way.

Convenience

CoEs have knowledgeable staff who can help to manage the logistics of treatment—such as coordinating with the multidisciplinary team to help schedule appointments, assist patients through the surgical and rehab process and answer questions along the way.

ThedaCare nurse navigators are the single point of contact who guide patients through the health care system and help them understand options, overcome barriers and make informed decisions about their treatment. This includes dedicated hematology navigators who help patients access several community resources and connect them with national groups.

Coordinated Care

When treating highly complex medical conditions, there are many benefits to having specialists work together. The coordination of care that happens at a CoE allows doctors and the care team (nurses, medical assistants, navigators, schedulers, etc) to easily exchange information, learn from one another and treat patients more holistically.

Focused Expertise

Getting care from a CoE team means that each member is focused solely on the patient’s specific disease, ensuring they maintain a singular focus at all times.

In November of 2019, ThedaCare Cancer Care officially launched the work of five Tumor Site-Specific Centers of Excellence (COE). One of these centers is focused on head and neck cancers (thyroid, oral, larynx, tonsil, etc). Our goal is to streamline, standardize and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of all head and neck cancer patients in the region. This head and neck cancer program is a multidisciplinary group that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, ear, nose and throat specialists, surgery, endocrinology, radiology, pathology, and support services such as dieticians and speech pathologists, with specialists located throughout the Fox Valley.

Key components that are currently in place are:

Head and Neck Tumor Board

As part of this process we have created a designated tumor board to assure that head and neck cases can be discussed by a multidisciplinary team on a proactive basis. The tumor board assures we have all needed providers and supportive services present to collaborate and discuss a specific case.

Head and Neck Nurse Navigator

Head and Neck navigators are available to help patients navigate the system and coordinate their care, from time of cancer diagnosis through treatment into survivorship.
In November of 2019, ThedaCare Cancer Care officially launched the work of five Tumor Site-Specific Centers of Excellence (COE). One of these centers is focused on hematologic malignancies. This disease site includes the various types of leukemias, lymphomas and other blood related diseases. Our goal is to streamline, standardize and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of all patients in our region with this type of diagnosis. This hematologic malignancy program is a multidisciplinary group that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, and support services, with specialists located throughout the Fox Valley.
In November of 2019, ThedaCare Cancer Care officially launched the work of five Tumor Site-Specific Centers of Excellence (COE). One of these centers is focused on gastrointestinal cancers (colon, rectal, liver, pancreas, stomach). Our goal is to streamline, standardize and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of all gastrointestinal cancer patients in the region. This gastrointestinal cancer program is a multidisciplinary group that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, surgery, pathology, primary care and support services, with specialists located throughout the Fox Valley.

Key components that are currently in place are:

A Designated Gastrointestinal Tumor Board

As part of this process we have created a designated tumor board to assure that gastrointestinal cases can be discussed by a multidisciplinary team on a proactive basis. The designated tumor board assures we have all needed providers and supportive services present to collaborate and discuss a specific case.

Gastrointestinal Nurse Navigator

Gastrointestinal navigators are available to help patients navigate the system and coordinate their care, from time of cancer diagnosis through treatment into survivorship.
In November of 2019, ThedaCare Cancer Care officially launched the work of five Tumor Site-Specific Centers of Excellence (COE). One of these centers is focused on lung cancer, which is the deadliest malignancy in the world. Our goal is to streamline, standardize and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of all lung cancer patients in the region. This lung cancer program is a multidisciplinary group that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, pulmonology and support services, with specialists located throughout the Fox Valley.

Three key components that are currently in place are:

Lung Screening Program

The goal of our lung cancer screening through low-dose CT scan is to enable detection of cancer before it has spread. Treatment can then be provided, which may reduce the likelihood of dying from lung cancer. ThedaCare started this program in 2018. During the first year, 1300 patients were screened. 19% of them had abnormal finding with a rate of 18/1000 patients diagnosed with cancer.

Criteria for lung cancer screening:
- Age 55 to 77
- History of tobacco use of at least 30 pack years
- Currently smoking or have quit within last 15 years
Lung Nodule Clinic

As part of this process we have created a lung nodule clinic to serve patients with suspicious findings identified on imaging. This clinic is located at Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine and is in partnership with the ThedaCare Cancer Care.

Lung Nurse Navigator

Lung navigators are available to help patients navigate the system and coordinate their care, from time of cancer diagnosis through treatment into survivorship.
In November of 2019, ThedaCare Cancer Care officially launched the work of five Tumor Site-Specific Centers of Excellence (COE). One of these centers is focused on breast cancer, the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Our goal is to streamline, standardize and expedite the diagnosis and treatment of all breast cancer patients in the region. This breast cancer program is a multidisciplinary group that includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, genetic counseling and support services, with specialists located throughout the Fox Valley.

Key components currently in place include:

National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancers (NAPBC)

This accreditation assures that ThedaCare’s Cancer Care program meets the highest level of services and care possible, including advocating for screening mammograms and interventions for high risk patients, as well as improving quality outcomes, expanding programs and support services for breast cancer patients.

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Surveillance

ThedaCare Breast Program provides an array of breast care services starting with a program to identify people that may be at increased risk for breast cancer. Our approach to risk assessment and surveillance engages a team of experts including specialists in radiology, pathology, surgery, medical oncology and cancer genetics. We offer a comprehensive risk assessment based on nationally approved criteria, and we provide the most appropriate personalized surveillance plan for patients at increased risk of breast cancer, based on the specific risks identified.

Breast Nurse Navigators

Breast navigators are available to help patients navigate the system and coordinate their care, from time of cancer diagnosis through treatment into survivorship.