Inpatient Guide

Welcome to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. This admissions guide from our Patient Education Department will help you and your family during your stay.

Each cancer patient’s experience is unique. We want you to know we will be with you at every step of your journey. This guide addresses concerns you might have. Please talk to your healthcare team if you have other questions.

Your Healthcare Team

Roswell Park staff are trained to offer you specialized care and treatment for your specific type of cancer. We take a multidisciplinary team approach to provide you the highest quality patient care. Here are the people on your healthcare team:

Physicians (MDs)

Physicians who may participate in your care include:

  • Medical oncologist: These doctors are the attending physicians for patients who will be treated with drug therapies, overseeing their care and directing your healthcare team. They will discuss your treatment plan with you and answer your questions.
  • Surgical oncologist: These doctors are the attending physicians for patients scheduled for surgery, overseeing your care and directing your healthcare team. They will discuss your treatment plan with you and answer your questions.
  • Radiation oncologist: Radiation oncologists are physicians who are responsible for the medically appropriate and technically correct radiation treatment of patients with cancer. All of our radiation oncologists are board-certified in therapeutic radiology by the American Board of Radiology, licensed by the New York State Department of Health, and comply with the American College of Radiology standards of care.
  • Hospitalist: These hospital-based general physicians assist your attending physician with your care.
  • Intensivist: Physicians with expertise in Critical Care Medicine  and are based in the intensive care unit (ICU) or intermediate care unit (IMCU).
  • Fellows: These licensed physicians have completed residencies in a medical specialty and are now performing advanced training in a subspecialty.
  • Residents: These physicians have completed medical school, received their MD certifications, and are training in a specialty area; first-year residents are called interns.

Nurses

Our nurses are the heart of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Among the nurses who will assist you are:

  • Nurse practitioners (NPs): Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses – RNs with graduate degrees in nursing specialties and extensive clinical training. In NY, they may practice without supervision, are licensed to write prescriptions within their specialty, and can diagnose and treat their patients.  They are considered primary care providers though they need a written collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. Many of our NPs hold national board certification in specialties) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
  • Registered nurses (RNs) are licensed by New York State to plan and provide direct care to patients.
  • Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide direct care to patients under RNs’ supervision.

Learn more about nursing at Roswell Park

Case Managers

Case managers are registered nurses (RNs) that manage and coordinate services to ease your transition from hospital to home. They can assist with questions about insurance coverage and help with arranging discharge and home care.

Physician Assistants (PA)

Physician assistants are mid-level practitioners who can perform medical services and write prescriptions within the scope of practice of their supervising physician. In NY, PAs are dependent practitioners who must work under the supervision of licensed physicians (the physician does not have to be physically present) and the licensed physician is legally responsible for the acts and/or omissions of the PAs

Pharmacists (PharmD and RPh)

Pharmacists are licensed by New York State to prepare and dispense prescription medications. Experts on the composition, actions, interactions and side effects of drugs, they can answer any questions about your medications.

Therapists

Therapists play an important role in your care. Therapists who may treat you during your stay and after your discharge include physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), speech pathologists and respiratory therapists (RTs).