Welcome
The BIDMC hematology/oncology (heme/onc) ambulatory units
About our units

Located on the 7th and 9th floors of the Carl J. Shapiro Clinical Center on the east
campus of Beth Israel Deaconess, we treat all types of cancers and bleeding
disorders in adults.

We open at 8 am and deliver care until 6 pm, Monday through Friday.
Important people and phone numbers

Main phone number
617-667-3755

Treatment area, Shapiro 7
617-667-9784

Treatment area, Shapiro 9
617-667-5167

Evenings (after 5 pm), weekends, and holidays
617-667-4700



Ask to speak to the oncology fellow on-call or the bone marrow transplant
fellow on call. A fellow is a fully trained doctor who is specializing further in
hematology and oncology.
Your care team:

Attending physician: ________________________________________

Fellow/nurse practitioner/physician assistant: ___________________

Nurse: ___________________________________________________

Social worker:_____________________________________________
Hematology/oncology social workers
Hematology/oncology social workers offer individual, couple, family, and group
counseling. If you would like to discuss counseling, or if you would like more
information about support services that are available to you and your family, please
call one of the social workers listed on the next page. Call one of the social workers
covering the area where you come for your treatment (7th floor or 9th floor).
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Covering the 7th floor treatment area
 Linda Goorin, LICSW, OSW-C, S
Senior clinical social worker
Phone number: 617-667-3442
Support groups
There are a large number of support
groups available to our patients and
families. In some cases, the groups are

Marcie Saganov, LICSW, OSW-C
Senior clinical social worker
Phone number: 617-667-9185
tailored to a very specific patient/family
group – such as young patients,
patients with newly-diagnosed cancer,
th
Covering the 9 floor treatment area
 Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, OSW-C,
Program manager, oncology social work
Phone number: 617-667-2661


Frank McCaffrey, LICSW, OSW-C,
Senior clinical social worker
Phone number: 617-667-3525
or patients with metastatic breast
cancer, to name just a few. Most
patients and family members who
participate in a support group find it
helpful to get support, encouragement,
and advice from others going through a
similar experience. Please speak to
one of our social workers if you’d like
Hematology/oncology nurse case manager
more information about support
A hematology/oncology nurse case manager
groups.
is available to discuss and arrange home
services, home medical equipment, home IV therapy, and other services as needed.
Your nurse can provide you with more information.
The treatment area
The treatment area is where patients receive chemotherapy, blood products, or other
interventions. Registered nurses (RNs) and practice assistants work together to care for
you.
 There are reclining chairs and a limited number of private rooms with beds.

There is free TV service at all chairs and beds. Because of the close proximity of
one TV to the next, we ask that you bring headphones or ear-buds if you wish to
watch TV during your treatment.

For the safety and comfort of our patients and their families, children 12 years of
age and under will not be permitted in the treatment area of Shapiro 9. Children
6 years of age and under are not permitted in the hem/onc unit on Shapiro 7.

Family/visitors are welcome; however, due to space constraints, we ask that no
more than two family members/visitors stay with you during your treatment.

Refreshments are available in the unit. Lunch is available for patients (and one
guest) who are in the unit during lunchtime.
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The phlebotomy area
The phlebotomy area is where a trained phlebotomist will draw blood out of your arm.
If you are having blood tests done before your treatment, it is very important that you
arrive 30-45 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to have your blood
drawn.
Other information for you and your family

A community resource specialist is available to help with issues around lodging,
transportation, insurance coverage, or community-based support. Please ask your
nurse or doctor for more information about these services.

Garage parking

The most convenient parking is in the Shapiro garage, which is accessed via
Binney Street off of Longwood Avenue. If you need help parking your car,
please speak to the attendant in the driveway outside of the garage.

All BIDMC patients and hospital visitors are eligible to receive a reduced
parking rate if they are parked in the BIDMC garage for more than two hours. To
receive the reduced rate, the garage ticket must be stamped at the information
desk on the lobby level of the Shapiro Clinical Center.

Patients only (or the person driving the patient) may be eligible for a daily
parking sticker, which further reduces the parking charge. (We are not able to
provide free parking.) Please ask your nurse for more information.

You must pay for parking at the parking cashier before returning to your
car. This applies even if you have a validation stamp or other reduced parking
arrangement. Do not pay at the self-serve kiosk if you have a reduced-rate
parking. Please see the parking cashier.

You are welcome to use your cellphone or laptop. Wireless internet services is
available free of charge. However, please try to keep cellphone conversations to a
minimum and do not use the speakerphone feature on your cell. Family and friends
are asked to please use their phones outside the treatment area.

Newspapers are sold on the lobby level of the Shapiro Clinical Center, opposite the
parking garage elevators.

Interpreters are available upon request for patients who speak limited English, or
for patients who are Deaf or hearing-impaired. Be sure to ask for an interpreter if
needed when you are having conversations with your doctor or nurse about your
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condition and treatment. Even if you speak some English, or if your family members
normally interpret for you, it is often best to hear this information with the help of an
interpreter so that there is no chance of confusion.

Volunteers are an important part of our staff. Most of these individuals are patients
who have been treated for cancer. They provide our patients with drinks, food,
conversation, and encouragement.

For additional information, please visit us online at www.bidmc.org/cancercenter.
This material was developed by clinicians and staff in the hematology/oncology unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. It is
produced and distributed by the Beth Israel Deaconess Learning Center. © 2011, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. All rights
reserved. MC1507 04/11
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