Oncology Hospital Medicine (Inpatient Care)

Through the partnership of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), your inpatient oncology team has access to all of the resources of a world-class institution.

You and your physician have access to outstanding surgeons and intensive care staff who specialize in the care of cancer patients, as well as to today's most advanced clinical services for diagnosis and treatment.

Inpatient clinical services include:

• Interventional radiology (IR) (also called vascular and interventional radiology (VIR) or surgical radiology): A sub-specialty of radiology, providing minimally-invasive image-guided diagnosis and treatment for certain cancers.
• Infectious disease care, control, and prevention: Many patients receive therapies that make them more susceptible to infection. Our team is specially trained to use techniques and precautions that minimize the risk of infection.
• Intensive care: Special medical care and monitoring for severely ill patients, delivered by skilled practitioners dedicated to intensive cancer care.
• Surgery by our expert sub-specialist surgical oncologists for cancers including, but not limited to, breast, brain, gastrointestinal, sarcoma, urology, melanoma and other skin lesions.
• Nuclear medicine tests: Radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) produce images of your body. These images demonstrate how your organs and tissues are functioning. A typical nuclear medicine examination is obtained with either a single photon emission tomography (SPECT) scanner or a positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanner.
• State-of-the-art radiation oncology therapies, including external and internal radiation therapy; radiation therapy for bone marrow transplant; high-precision, stereotactic radio-surgery for brain tumors; and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the most technologically advanced external beam radiation therapy treatment method. Learn more about our radiation oncology services.
• Respiratory therapy, such as lung function testing or chest physical therapy. Respiratory therapists also provide inhalable medications or oxygen.
• Radiology services, including X rays, ultrasound, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and inter-operative MRI. Learn more about our radiology services.
• Neurology and neuro-oncology: to address neurologic complications that may arise from cancer or its treatment.
• Pain and palliative care services provided by psychiatrists, anesthesiologists, and psychiatric nurses. Our unique Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (POPC) department specializes in the management of pain and other physical, emotional, social, and spiritual concerns that patients and their families face as they cope with a serious illness. Please speak with your doctor, nurse, social worker, or chaplain if you feel that you might benefit from these services.
• Nutrition counseling: Good nutrition plays a critical role during cancer treatment and needs to be an important part of your overall treatment plan. Our nutritionists are specially trained to work with cancer patients at all stages, from prevention through diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing survivorship. Learn more about our nutrition services.