Dana-Farber Direct Connect provides guided access to world-renowned expertise from cancer specialists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Comprehensive Navigation Team
Our trusted and dedicated patient liaisons will connect your employees and their families with our experts to treat their specific type of cancer. This specialized team will provide your employees with the following:
- Fast answers to questions: We support the unique needs of your employees and their families with a dedicated phone line and email address staffed by our highly experienced patient liaisons.
- Direct access to cancer care: We facilitate an initial in-person appointment or online second opinion as soon as is clinically appropriate.
- Help with the details: We can assist in the collection of external medical records prior to an appointment.
- Making it easy to get here: We can help coordinate travel and lodging for employees who do not live near Dana-Farber.
- Staying in touch: Employees get regular check-ins from the dedicated Direct Connect team throughout their treatment journey.
Supportive Care Services
We understand that cancer affects patients and their families in many ways. We offer a wide range of services for our patients, from financial planning to creative arts to spiritual counsel, to support our patients through their cancer experience.
- Palliative care: Palliative care can be helpful through all stages of illness from symptom management to pain reduction and care planning.
- Integrative therapies: The Zakim Center offers integrative medicine consults, teaching patients how to manage treatment-related side effects and improve their quality of life through acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, and other integrative therapies.
- Psychosocial support: Our experts develop individual treatment plans to help patients cope with the emotional stress of the cancer experience, including anxiety, depression, family coping, relationship issues, and personal, spiritual, and existential concerns.
- Nutrition services: Registered dietitians assist in planning an optimal diet at all stages of cancer.
- Financial services: Financial assistance and financial planning services are available for those looking to understand their options for paying medical bills.
- Other support resources: Including programs and services for caretakers and cancer survivors.
Cancer Early Detection, Interception, and Genetics
When cancer is detected early, the Dana-Farber care team has a greater chance of treating and curing that cancer. Through Direct Connect, individuals who are at increased risk of developing cancer can be connected to Dana-Farber's expert clinicians and researchers who work with patients to detect cancer sooner and stop pre-cancerous conditions from progressing. Through the Direct Connect program, your employees will have access to:
- Evaluation and personalized monitoring and intervention plan for individuals who are at increased risk for cancer, including those with:
- Precursor conditions, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering myeloma, smoldering Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia, clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP), Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, or pancreatic cystic lesions. (These are early phases of diseases that may develop into cancers.)
- Positive results from a multi-cancer early detection test, such as the Galleri test from GRAIL
- Genetic conditions, such as Lynch syndrome or BRCA genes
- Family history of cancer
- Previous cancer
- Online risk assessment tool for breast and ovarian cancer
- Customizable cancer prevention programming, available upon request
Online Second Opinions
A second opinion from Dana-Farber can provide you with peace of mind or additional options for your care.
Individuals may seek an online second opinion from Dana-Farber when:
- An individual has received a new cancer or blood disorder diagnosis.
- An individual's condition or diagnosis has changed.
- An individual's care team recommends a new treatment plan.
Throughout the online second opinion process individuals will receive service from their own personal care team, who will guide them through the entire process, including collection of medical records, matching the individual with an appropriate Dana-Farber medical oncologist, and handling any questions the individual may have.
Access Outside of Boston and International Support
Dana-Farber partners with a range of community providers to expand access to clinical trials, education, and programmatic support. Dana-Farber's relationships include numerous hospitals and oncology providers throughout New England, where patients can receive their care close to home.
For individuals outside of the U.S., Dana-Farber's international patient care team supports thousands of people from all over the world who travel to Dana-Farber for cancer care each year. Dana-Farber provides advanced multidisciplinary clinical care, while ensuring our patient's social and cultural needs are met. Our international patients receive personalized and comprehensive support throughout every stage of their journey, including assistance with care coordination, lodging, interpreter services, and more.
Through the Direct Connect program, dedicated patient liaisons can support individuals looking to learn about their options for scheduling an appointment at one of Dana-Farber's multiple locations, seeking local care with a Dana-Farber collaborative partner, or pursuing an online second opinion. The Direct Connect team will help your employees determine the most appropriate solution for their care, based on their specific needs.
On-Site Oncology Services
At Dana-Farber, all we do is cancer. Because no two people are the same, our approach to treatment and care is personalized – with a deep understanding of your cancer and how to get you well. The Direct Connect team will connect your employees with world-class experts in their specific type of cancer.
Dana-Farber Direct Connect can help employees:
- Easily understand the process of establishing or continuing care at Dana-Farber.
- Find the right specialist group, based on their type of cancer.
- Meet with a care team to explore options for themselves or a loved one.
- Connect with the right resources at Dana-Farber.