Ongoing care coordination is provided by experienced oncology clinicians and support staff who are available to assist you throughout your treatment with symptom management and nutrition needs.
The goal of care coordination is to help you manage your physical, psychosocial and emotional needs as well as act as your primary contact. The care coordination team performs many functions including providing medication and diagnoses education, symptom monitoring, as well as addressing barriers to care, including financial and transportation assistance. Your care coordinator will assist you with creating and understanding your personalized plan of care and help facilitate communication between your oncologist and other providers.
Patients enrolled in programs such as Principal Care Management (PCM) or Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) program will be assigned a care coordinator. The PCM program is available to Medicare and most Medicare Advantage patients who have one serious, complex chronic condition. EOM is specifically designed for Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries with seven specific types of cancers: breast cancer, chronic leukemia, small intestine/colorectal cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and prostate cancer.
Patients also have access to a wide range of services and resources that help improve their overall health and well-being including support from dietitians to minimize the impact of cancer on daily life.
Meet Your Oncology Dietitian
Nicole Franklin, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN
Nicole is a Board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition (CSO) and an active member of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Born and raised in Western North Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree in agricultural business management with a concentration in biology from NC State and later earned her master’s degree in human nutrition from Winthrop University.
Nicole began her career in the hospital setting in 2014 and transitioned to outpatient oncology in 2017. She desires to embrace the WNC community, inspiring patients to use food to manage symptoms and promote a lifestyle of wellness..
Nutrition support is an integral part of the treatment and recovery plan for our patients and appointments with the dietitian are free of charge.