American Cancer Society Partners with Northside Hospital
To Offer New Patient Resource Navigation Program
Program at Northside Funded in Part by Donation from
Dick and Sandra Bowers

The American Cancer Society and Northside Hospital  announced the Patient Resource Navigation Program at Northside to provide cancer patients with life-saving information and support.  More cases of cancer are treated at Northside Hospital than at any other hospital in Georgia.

The Patient Resource Navigation Program at Northside is funded by Dick and Sandra Bond Bowers on behalf of the American Cancer Society and by Northside.  The Patient Resource Navigation Program will be named in honor of Sandra Bowers, who is an 18-year survivor of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.

"We are delighted to partner with Northside Hospital to offer this program to cancer patients and their families,” said Jack Shipkoski, the American Cancer Society's Chief Executive Officer for the South Atlantic Division.  "We know that getting regular cancer treatment can make the difference in cancer survival.  Patient navigators are able to help patients resolve problems that may prevent them from getting to their treatment on a regular basis, thereby providing life-saving services.”

"Northside's Cancer Care Program offers patients a treatment process that encompasses the entire cancer experience – from education, prevention and screening to diagnosis and treatment, research, support and survivorship,” said Patti Owen, director of oncology services at Northside.  "We don't believe that patients should have to choose between expertise and compassionate care in their fight against cancer and having a patient navigator as part of our Cancer Care Program, to help steer patients through their treatment, will help more patients receive the care that they need.”

Patient navigators are specially trained American Cancer Society staff members who work in hospitals to provide support and link cancer patients, survivors and caregivers to needed information and resources throughout the cancer journey.  They offer high-quality and timely cancer-related information and are able to refer patients to American Cancer Society programs and services, link them with clinical trials, and provide assistance with such issues as available community resources, finances, housing and transportation.

"It would be difficult to find anyone who hasn't had an experience with cancer.  It's a devastating disease that can strike anyone, any time,” said Bowers, vice president of Office Properties Division, Arthur Rubloff & Co. of Georgia and president of Richard Bowers & Co.  " Patient resource navigators help patients deal with the often overwhelming issues that arise from a cancer diagnosis and ensure that they can focus on life-saving treatment.  Sandra and I are pleased to help make the Patient Resource Navigation Program a reality at Northside Hospital.”

The Northside Hospital health care delivery system is a not-for-profit health care provider that has served north Metro Atlanta for more than three decades. With more than 1,800 physicians on its medical staff, Northside cares for more than 400,000 patients a year.  Their physicians and staff provide a full range of health care services, including women's services, cancer care, emergency services, surgery, specialty medicine and a wide array of outpatient services at many locations.  Northside Hospital offers high-quality health care at Northside Hospital-Atlanta in Sandy Springs, at Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton and at Northside Hospital-Forsyth in Cumming.

The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.  Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.  For more information anytime, call toll free 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org .