ROI-NJ Cancer Care Supplement — Hackensack Meridian

1. What specific programs or services has your institution introduced to improve patient access to cancer care? 

Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center has introduced several innovative programs and services to improve patient access to cancer care, particularly for underserved and at-risk populations. These efforts focus on breaking down financial, geographic, and systemic barriers: 

• Multisite Access and Expansion: John Theurer Cancer Center has expanded its network across New Jersey through satellite locations and affiliate partnerships, which include John Theurer Cancer Center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, John Theurer Cancer Center at Palisades Medical Center, The Cancer Center at Totowa, through a partnership with St. Joseph’s Health, along with St. Joseph’s Health Paterson and Wayne, allowing more patients to receive advanced care close to home. It also offers telemedicine services, especially for follow-ups and genetic counseling, to reduce the burden of travel.  

• The Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention: The Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine, part of Hackensack Meridian Health’s John Theurer Cancer Center, represents a pioneering approach to cancer care by emphasizing prevention, early detection, and personalized risk assessment. Established in 2023 through a generous grant from the Mike & Patti Hennessy Foundation, the Institute is the first in New Jersey to offer a comprehensive cancer interception program at scale. In partnership with CancerIQ, the Institute provides a free, user-friendly online risk assessment tool that evaluates personal, familial, and lifestyle factors to identify individuals at elevated cancer risk. Those determined to be at risk receive personalized care plans, which may include advanced molecular screening techniques such as liquid biopsies and genetic testing, aiming to detect cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.  

• Financial Navigation Services: Dedicated financial counselors assist patients in understanding insurance benefits, securing coverage for treatments, and accessing grants or charitable funds to minimize financial hardship—one of the biggest barriers to care. 

• Clinical Trial Access: John Theurer Cancer Center is a national leader in clinical trials and early-phase research. It actively works to enroll patients—regardless of socioeconomic status—in potentially life-saving protocols by simplifying trial enrollment and offering support services.  

• Patient Navigation and Care Coordination: Nurse navigators and care coordinators guide patients through the health system, expediting appointments, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and ensuring timely access to diagnostics and treatment—especially important for newly diagnosed individuals. 

• Community Outreach and Screening Programs: John Theurer Cancer Center holds free community screening events, often in collaboration with local churches, community centers, and health departments, focusing on high-risk and under-screened populations. 

2. How does your hospital integrate multidisciplinary teams to enhance treatment planning and delivery? 

• At John Theurer Cancer Center, multidisciplinary teams are central to delivering comprehensive, personalized cancer care. Each patient’s treatment is guided by a collaborative team of experts that may include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, and nurse navigators. These specialists meet regularly in tumor boards to review individual cases, combining their expertise to develop customized treatment plans that reflect the latest evidence-based practices. This integrated approach ensures that every aspect of a patient’s care—from diagnosis and genetic testing to treatment and supportive services—is seamlessly coordinated. By bringing diverse perspectives together, Hackensack Meridian Health not only improves outcomes but also enhances the patient experience through more efficient communication and continuity of care. 

3. Can you share any recent advancements in technology or treatment modalities adopted by your institution? 

• Artificial Intelligence in Prostate Cancer: John Theurer Cancer Center uses an AI-based technology from Artera, aimed at predicting the aggressiveness of prostate cancer post-surgery. This tool assists clinicians in tailoring treatment plans more precisely.  

• Advanced CAR T-Cell Therapies: John Theurer Cancer Center has initiated clinical trials like ATHENA and APOLLO, exploring CAR T-cell therapies for challenging cases of liver and prostate cancers. These trials target specific proteins (GPC3 and STEAP2) to offer new hope for patients with limited treatment options.  

• Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy: In a novel approach, John Theurer Cancer Center treats patients by extracting and expanding their own tumor-fighting immune cells, offering a personalized immunotherapy option for advanced melanoma and other cancers.  

• Precision Medicine and Genomic Profiling: John Theurer Cancer Center emphasizes personalized treatment plans based on genetic profiling, utilizing next-generation sequencing to inform targeted therapies and improve patient outcomes.We use one of the only platforms able to do liquid biopsies testing both DNA and RNA which is much more informative to refine cancer subtypes and treatment decisions.  

• BGRT: John Theurer Cancer Center is the sixth center in the world to offer the world’s most advanced technology for treating metastatic disease, combining PET scan imaging with radiation therapy to trace and then target tumors in real time, even while the patient is moving or breathing.  Single-session treatment of multiple tumors enhances convenience and minimizes radiation exposure to health tissues.  

4. What initiatives have been implemented to support patients’ emotional and psychological well-being during treatment? 

Several key initiatives have been implemented to provide comprehensive psychosocial care: 

• On-site Psychosocial Support: Licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists are available to provide counseling, coping strategies, and mental health support tailored to each patient’s needs. 

• Support Groups and Peer Programs: John Theurer Cancer Center offers a variety of support groups for patients, caregivers, and survivors, including groups specific to cancer types. Peer-to-peer mentorship programs connect patients with survivors for encouragement and shared experience. 

• Patient Navigation Services: Nurse navigators guide patients through treatment, helping reduce anxiety by coordinating appointments, explaining care plans, and connecting patients with resources like transportation and financial counseling. 

• Mind-Body and Integrative Therapies: John Theurer Cancer Center offers programs like yoga, meditation, art therapy, music therapy, and acupuncture to help reduce stress and promote healing alongside traditional medical treatments. 

• Spiritual and Palliative Care: Chaplaincy services and integrative palliative care teams help patients and families address spiritual concerns, existential distress, and advance care planning. 

• The Hennessy Institute’s Preventive Approach: While primarily focused on early detection, the Hennessy Institute also addresses health disparities and emotional stress associated with cancer risk, offering personalized plans that include psychological wellness 

5. How does your hospital engage with the community to raise awareness and promote cancer prevention? 

John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center actively engages with the community to raise awareness and promote cancer prevention through a wide range of outreach, education, and screening initiatives. Key efforts include: 

• Community-Based Screenings: John Theurer Cancer Center offers free or low-cost cancer screenings—including for breast, prostate, colorectal, skin, and lung cancers—at health fairs, mobile units, and community clinics, especially in underserved areas. 

• The Hennessy Institute: Through the Hennessy Institute, John Theurer Cancer Center provides access to CancerIQ, a free online tool that assesses individual cancer risk based on family history, genetics, and lifestyle. Those identified as high-risk are connected with personalized prevention and early detection plans. 

• Educational Workshops and Seminars: The center hosts regular in-person and virtual events to educate the public on cancer risk factors, symptoms, lifestyle changes, and the importance of early detection. Topics often include smoking cessation, nutrition, and hereditary cancer syndromes. 

• Health Equity and Disparities Initiatives: John Theurer Cancer Center partners with community organizations to reduce health disparities, providing culturally competent education and services to reach diverse populations. 

• Partnerships with Schools and Local Organizations: John Thuerer Cancer Center collaborates with schools, businesses, faith groups, and local nonprofits to promote healthy behaviors, such as sun safety, HPV vaccination, and healthy eating. 

• Cancer Survivorship and Advocacy Events: The center organizes events like National Cancer Survivors Day celebrations and participates in awareness campaigns during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and others to encourage screening and celebrate survivorship. 

• Cooking studio on site where we teach patients ow to cook. We also have ongoing studies to look at the benefit of lifestyle changes during and after cancer treatment.