Greta Gilbode, MBA
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) is celebrating two years of tremendous growth and success at Penn Medicine Cherry Hill. This facility serves as a “one-stop shop” for patients living in South Jersey. For example, they can visit their primary care doctor, work with a wide range of specialists, and receive lab work and Abramson Cancer Center services. PPMC is proud to oversee the facility’s infusion and radiation oncology services, as well as the outpatient lab and pharmacy.
Since Penn Medicine Cherry Hill opened in 2016, a multidisciplinary group of clinicians from Hematology/Oncology and Radiation Oncology have been able to build up their services quickly. Greta Gilbode, MBA, associate executive director of Service Line Operations, noted that Penn Medicine’s reputation for clinical excellence, compassion, and convenience have been a huge draw for patients who may not have the time or resources to cross the bridge for treatment.
Looking ahead, the oncology services teams are in the process of developing a new scheduling system to reduce wait times and make the patient experience more efficient and comfortable. Early results at other Penn Medicine facilities have already shown a 20 percent decrease in wait times. Patients can also take advantage of “teaching visits” before they begin chemotherapy — meeting with the nursing team at the facility and learning what to expect. Feedback has shown that these visits reduced patients’ anxiety by combatting their fear of the unknown. Access to complementary therapy and holistic support services like Reiki also help patients to take a role in their own care and cope with their cancer diagnosis outside of regular treatment.
“I work with such an amazing and talented team, and each member works so hard to meet the changing needs of our patients,” Gilbode said. “Without our many partners, we couldn’t have seen such tremendous success over the last two years.”