Care Coordinators
When treatments seem like a complex maze, Cancer Care Coordinators guide you through
In your journey toward wellness, your care plan may call for multiple treatments, in more than one setting, over an extended period of time, and with multiple health care providers.
Add that complexity to the stress of the disease itself, and it's easy to see how you can feel lost and possibly overwhelmed. The Florida Hospital Cancer Institute steps in to offer you a "GPS navigator" to lead you along your pathway of care: a Cancer Care Coordinator.
What is a Cancer Care Coordinator?
The FHCI's comprehensive approach to your treatment seeks to deliver care in a logical, connected and timely manner, so that both your medical and personal needs are met. That's sometimes difficult for you as the patient or even your family member to achieve alone. The Cancer Care Coordinator's role is to advocate for quality care by:
- Strengthening information sharing: making sure vital links are there between care providers
- Improving delivery of treatments: ensuring the care plan is delivered in a complementary and timely manner
- Building relationships: being there as a "hand to hold" during this time, and keeping links between past, current and future care
As the link between you, your doctor and others on the team, these professionals ensure that you have the education, support and resources you need to make informed choices. Services are tailored to your individual needs, including:
- Comprehensive nursing assessment and support
- Rapid scheduling of all appointments and consultations
- Assistance with coordination of providers and procedures
- Symptom management
- Ongoing education and disease information
- Assistance with second opinions
- Access to the FHCI's clinical trials
Meet our Care Coordinators
Brain and Spinal Cancer
Denise Cochran, MSN, ARNP-BC
(407) 303-5909
Denise.Cochran@flhosp.org
Breast Cancer
Elizabeth Joannou, RN
(407) 303-2514
Elizabeth.Joannou@flhosp.org
Colorectal Cancer
Thelma Brooks, RN, BSN
(407) 303-5981
Thelma.Brooks@flhosp.org
Head and Neck Cancer
Laurie Amodeo, MSN, ARNP, AOCNP
(407) 303-7132
Laurie.Amodeo@flhosp.org
Lung/Esophageal Cancer
Brenda Rzeszutko, MSN, ARNP-BC
(407) 303-2982
Brenda.Rzeszutko@flhosp.org
Urologic Cancer
Laura Forleo, RN, BSN
(407) 303-5999
LauraMarie.Forleo@flhosp.org
Celebration Health Care Coordinator (Breast Cancer & Genetics)
Rebecca McLamara, RN, OCN
(407) 303-4610
Rebecca.McLamara@flhosp.org
Osceola County Cancer Care Coordinator (all cancer)
Susan Vallan, RN-BC, MSN, OCN
407-944-5214
Susan.Vallan@flhosp.org
Schedule an appointment with your Cancer Care Coordinator by email or phone, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. EST. If you do not see a care coordinator listed for your particular type of cancer, call (407) 303-5999 and someone will assist you.
Your free call will be answered by a specially trained oncology health care professional and remain confidential. No insurance authorization or referral is necessary. If calling after hours, please leave a detailed message, and you will be contacted within one business day.
