Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw, Michigan is STAR Program® Certified
Covenant HealthCare, has announced that it has earned its STAR Program® Certification. The certification qualifies Covenant HealthCare to offer the STAR Program, a state-of-the-art cancer rehabilitation program that will help survivors recover from the side effects and aftereffects of treatments.
STAR Program Certification is an offering of the Massachusetts-based healthcare company Oncology Rehab Partners, and it provides hospitals and cancer centers with the tools needed (training for clinical staff and evaluation and treatment protocols) to quickly and effectively implement evidence-based cancer rehabilitation services for survivors suffering from post-treatment symptoms such as pain, fatigue, weakness, and emotional distress.
Most of the services offered by the STAR Program are covered by health insurance and are designed to rehabilitate survivors of all forms and stages of cancer. The program uses a multidisciplinary clinical approach, whereby a team of experts—rehabilitation medicine physicians, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, medical social workers, and nurse practitioners—works with each patient on a personalized rehabilitation plan to increase strength and energy, alleviate pain, and improve daily function and well-being.
“Our STAR Program is already showing early signs of success, as we are seeing more patients in need of cancer rehabilitation,” said Cherie Bremer, RN, CRRN Lead Clinician, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Covenant. “In addition, rehabilitation, nursing, social work, pastoral care, and nutrition have come together as a team with a renewed passion for caring for our cancer patients. We are fortunate to have such a phenomenal group of caregivers here at Covenant Healthcare.”
Oncology Rehab Partners’ founder Julie Silver, MD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and herself a cancer survivor, said, “We are proud to announce Covenant HealthCare’s STAR Program Certification. This organization is leading the way in excellence in survivorship care based on best practices by a knowledgeable and committed staff.”
