Patients in remission or in a stable place in their own treatment as well as family members of patients can help those currently in treatment who have a similar background such as diagnosis, familial status, gender and age. At the training sessions, volunteers will learn about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, current trends in research and treatment of blood-related cancers, and basic counseling skills.
The First Connection program provides a phone call or visit to a newly diagnosed patient by a patient in remission. This gives the patient something that no one else can: a first-hand look at having “been there.”
“The objective of First Connection is to provide the patient or family member a counselor who has gone through a similar experience and, more importantly, let them know these diseases are curable,” said Lisa McLaughlin, patient services manager. “The more volunteers we train, the better the chances of matching patients to counselors with similar backgrounds.”
Interested volunteers must register beforehand to take part in the training. The office is located at 281 Route 79. To sign up or for more information, contact McLaughlin at (888) 920-8557 or [email protected].
CentraState clinic
makes temporary move
The Family Medicine Center of CentraState Healthcare System has temporarily relocated from 1001 W. Main St. To the emergency department at CentraState Medical Center, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township.
For the next two months, the primary care clinic will serve patients at the First Care unit of the emergency department, adjacent to the main lobby.
The Family Medicine Center will be renovated in preparation for the hospital’s new Family Practice Residency program. Through the residency program, residents from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will join the Family Medicine Center to provide service for patients as part of their medical training. The program is expected to launch in July with six residents per year.
The remodeling is expected to be complete by late December. For details, call the Family Medicine Center, (732) 294-2540.
Hadassah to host “instant
art’ program Nov. 21
Roosevelt/East Windsor Hadassah, in conjunction with the Lawrence, Princeton and Village Grande chapters, will present Morris Katz demonstrating his “instant art” techniques. Katz talks and tells jokes while he paints, drawing on a wealth of life experiences.
The event will be held Nov. 21, 3 p.m., at the Rimon Center, 483 Dutch Neck Road, East Windsor. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Refreshments are included. For more information, call Marge, (609) 443-1013, or e-mail [email protected].