Social Work Services
Social Work Services at Cleveland Clinic Florida
Cleveland Clinic Florida has a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Breast Patient Navigator to help patients access services and support, facilitate support groups and access care.
A social worker is trained to help reduce social and emotional psycho-social concerns, by providing services to patients, families and care partners facing the impact of their cancer diagnosis. Social workers are an integral part of the healthcare team. Our clinical social worker and breast patient navigator are part of your care team and collaborate with specialists in the development of your treatment plan.
Social work services can provide assistance and access to the following:
- Individual, family and group counseling to help with coping and adjusting to lifestyle changes
- Referrals to community and national organizations
- Assistance with governmental agencies and programs that help people with disabilities, including the Social Security Administration and Medicare
- Cancer Support Organizations
- Support Groups
- Financial assistance programs and referrals to a Patient Financial Advocate
- Employment and disability benefits
- Assistance for help at home if indicated by your physicians
For more information or assistance from Social Work Services call 954.659.5604
Patient Resource & Education Center
Florida Patient Resource and Education Center
Our Patient Resource and Education Center at the Maroone Cancer Center provides patients and their friends and families information and resources about cancer, including:
- Pamphlets and informational brochures
- Computer terminals that can be used for conducting internet searches
- WiFi access for laptops
- Conference area where you can sit with a nurse and ask questions
- Listings and registrations for support groups and other patient programs
- Listings of resources such as wigs, transportation, and lodging
The Patient Resource and Education Center at is open to help you obtain cancer information from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Cancer Support Services
Support Groups
View the December 2018 Maroone Cancer Support Group Series Calendar
| Support Group | Location |
|---|---|
| Breast Cancer Book Club A book club for breast cancer patients. |
Date: Meets every other month on the second Wednesday of the Month Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, art therapy room For information: Call Cara Kondaki, LCSW at 954.659.5604 |
| High Tea for Patients & Caregivers A support group for all patients and caregivers. |
Date: Meets the third Wednesday of every month Time: 2 p.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, first floor lobby For information: Call Cara Kondaki, LCSW at 954.659.5604 |
| Eat Right to Fight - Cooking Demonstration A program for people with Cancer to help focus on nutrition. |
Date: Meets the last Friday of every month Time: 10 a.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, art therapy room For information: Call Amanda Amigo, RD at 954.659.5000 or email amigoa@ccf.org to register |
| Look Good Feel Better This is a free program that teaches people in active cancer treatment ways to deal with appearance-related side effects. It is offered by the American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month. |
Date: Meets the third Monday of the month Time: 3 p.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, second floor room 203 For information: Call toll-free 800.227.2345. |
| New Patient Orientation An orientation program for new patients. |
Date: Meets every Wednesday Time: 10 a.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, art therapy room For information: Contact Cara Kondaki, LCSW at 954.659.5604. |
| Gilda's Club South Florida Cancer support group that is open to all those with a cancer diagnosis. |
Date: Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Location: Egil and Pauline Braathen Center, room 394 For information: RSVP recommended. Call locally at 954.763.6776 or email Yvonne at yvonne@gildasclubsouthflorida.org |
Other Support Services
Cancer Registry
The Cancer Registry plays an integral role in the success of Cleveland Clinic Florida Cancer Program, providing data management services to meet mandatory state cancer reporting requirements, as well as those of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The Cancer Registry maintains data on all cancer patients and the data is made available to the medical staff for special studies, audits and research.
For more information, call 954.659.5234.
Chemocare.com
Chemocare.com is a comprehensive resource for cancer patients and their caregivers that provides chemotherapy drug and side effect information, cancer wellness information, and links to additional reliable resources and organizations.
Dietitian
Our Registered dietitian is an integral part of our interdisciplinary team. Dieticians can analyze your health needs in regard to diet and exercise and help you set achievable health goals as you manage your disease.
Nutritional counseling can help you:
- Increase energy
- Reduce symptoms of disease
- Strengthen your immune system
- Improve quality of sleep
A dietitian will work with you and your physicians to address your ongoing dietary needs including during treatment, and to prevent malnutrition if there are times of prolonged sickness.
Cleveland Clinic Florida continues to play an active role in supporting the American Cancer Society’s community outreach efforts to raise awareness about cancer prevention, research, education and support services.
Genetic Counseling
Family history is your road map to wellness. Genetic counseling emphasizes treatment centered around your unique genetic profile and other cancer risk assessments. Progress in genomics will focus on unleashing the potential to target the right tumors with the right therapies.
Healing Through Art
Art therapy is a psycho-social practice based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression can help individuals of all ages improve and enhance their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Art therapy can help support healing by decreasing pain and anxiety, promoting relaxation, improving quality of life, assisting in rehabilitation and more.
Kline Family Studio
The Kline Family Studio offers complimentary wigs to Cleveland Clinic Florida patients being treated for cancer. The Kline Family Studio is a welcome addition to our patient services. Other items available for purchase include motivational books, candles, scarfs and wellness items.
Life Coach & Holistic Psychotherapy
Maria Niki Michalopoulos is a Clinical Psychotherapist and Transpersonal Life Coach who offers individual and group sessions for the following services: Holistic psychotherapy services include traditional talk psychotherapy and non-traditional therapies including meditation, guided imagery, breath therapy and HeartMath biofeedback. The focus is to help patients learn to navigate their mind/body system into health and vitality through a variety of evidence based modalities. These serviecs are effective in decreasing stress and promoting states of relaxation. Please contact 954.659.5838 for scheduling.
Smoking Cessation
Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Smoking Cessation Program uses the S.M.A.R.T. Quit approach to help patients overcome nicotine addiction. The S.M.A.R.T. approach is as follows:
- Strategy: Develop a program tailored for each patient’s success.
- Motivation: Encourage patients to make a pact with themselves to keep trying.
- Awareness: Teaches patients about nicotine addiction, withdrawal and triggers.
- Reasons: Help patients compare pros and cons and identify their top reasons to quit.
- Tobacco-Free Life: Help patients set a date; then commit to living without tobacco
