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Patient Populations & Care
 Learn more about:
Populations Served
We serve patients in the hospital ages 13-25 who request our services, are referred to Streetlight by a member of the treatment team, or who are part of our special population groups described below.
Interact with Streetlight Team members, learn more about the program, and become a fan of our Facebook page.
Adolescents have been called the “Forgotten Tribe” of cancer. An organization “I’m Too Young for This” [i2y] is a resource to support the young adult with cancer.
Our cancer youth need peer companions through their long treatment, and a celebration at the End of Chemo with a party and a printed biography of their experience. As funds come in we are developing a TEENZONE on each pediatric wing; rooms customized with teen themes. We want to maintain better contact with them as they move out of the hospital as cancer survivors. Young adults who survive cancer are not "out of the woods'" yet, and need support and encouragement to follow through on a regular heath care regimen, so that relapse or other complications do not sneak up on them.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited life-limiting illness. The average survival rate is 35 years, but the some of the adolescents we serve at Shands live much shorter lives, many dying between 18 and 25 years of age - because some of the very sickest teens seek treatment here. CF-ers are most infectious to each other, which makes getting together almost impossible except through internet connections. There was no teenage CF website, so we recently created one called Voicebox. It is the only site of its kind; a type of CF only social network, so that friendships and support can be maintained.
 Unlike the cancer youth that is blindsided with a diagnosis in high school, these adolescents have known all along that they would die young. Depression and despair are an epidemic in this population. It's not so much that their life is full of pain. Rather, it is the cumbersome daily treatments four hours a day, the complex dietary demands, the restricted activities, and the knowledge that even doing all this 'right' will not save their life.
Their greatest challenge is finding and creating meaning for themselves in a shortened and overly burdensome life. There are some courageous CF heroes that could be examples and inspirations to others, but it is difficult to pull together a group of youth when they cannot even be in the same room with each other. The obvious answer is media: video, internet, cell phones, texting and YouTube. We are living in an age where the solution is very accessible - with increased funding and resources.
The Sickle Cell youth is born through a recessive gene from each parent - almost always unknowingly. It is primarily a disease carried in the African American population, and it is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain that can occur in any part of their body and last as long as several weeks. Awareness, testing, and support is slow in coming.
One of our early experiences with Sickle Cell patients was with a 19-year-old young man, doubled over in pain, and trying not to cry. He said, "Ms. Rebecca, we've got to do something about this. We people with sickle cell have got to come together and support each other. We've got to have a march, or a basketball benefit, or something! I don't know anybody with Sickle Cell, but I know they're out there. And that just ain't right."
 We knew they were "out there." In fact, several other teens with SCD were just down the hall from him, but because of confidentiality rules we could only assure him that he was not alone. Our goals with Sickle Cell are to help get them together outside the hospital in support groups, and raise awareness in the community so school teachers, employers, and family members become more sensitive and supportive. Keeping pace in school, holding down a job, and just living a normal life can seem almost impossible because of their frequent hospitalizations. Failure can seem like their constant companion.
We realize that frequent hospital visits or a long-stay in the hospital isn’t always someone with cancer, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell disease. Other Populations we serve include young people experiencing cardiac and congenital disorders, systemic lupus, seizure disorders, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, organ transplants, chronic gastrointestinal issues, mixed connective tissue disorders, chronic infections, and other rare diseases that might cause psycho-social-spiritual and physical stress.”
How We Serve our Patient Populations
CALL US FROM ANY HOSPITAL PHONE 50917, or if you are on your way into the hospital call us at 352-265-0917.
Choose a patient population from the drop down menu:
Patients ages 13 - 25 years - We can offer you movies, video games, magazines, and an invitation to Teen Lounge (Monday through Thursday) regardless of your reason for being at Shands.
Room Bound Patients - We will take the necessary gowning precautions and offer you movies, video games, and some companionship if you want it.
Beyond movies and video games, we have books, magazines, beading & crafts, CDs, CD players, Puzzles, Sudoku, journals, posters, and Streetlight tee shirts.
Patients Who Make More Than Four Return Visits to Shands - We consider you a Designated Palliative Care Patient, and make a special effort to get to know you. We can make a ShandsSpace with you (identity profile), and provide whatever support you need at the time.
Patients Treated for Cancer - We hope you will find a few team members with whom you make a connection. It is great to have friends you look forward to seeing when you come in for chemo.
At the end of your chemotherapy treatments, you have the option of having an END OF CHEMO party where nurses, doctors, friends and family are invited to celebrate this marker in your health care journey. We also help you write a bio that tells your own story with cancer and has pictures you wish to include. Some EOC parties are all about playing Rock Band. Others are all about the food and cake. It is whatever you want it to be.
We can also refer you to other cool cancer support resources like i2y and the Stupid Cancer Show, and the OMG Cancer Summit for young people.
Patients with a Sickle Cell Pain Crisis - The team works to raise awareness, to assist in Sickle Cell transition to adult care, and to help provide a supportive outpatient community. Ask for a Stop the Sickle Cell Cycle t-shirt or wristband to help raise awareness yourself This team has a greater understanding of and empathy for the Sickle Cell young person and the obstacles they encounter.
This team is headed by Shay Charles and Elaine Duran, who works closely with Dr. Levette Dunbar, to raise awareness, to assist in Sickle Cell transition to adult care and to help provide a supportive outpatient community for get-togethers. Our vision for supporting Sickle Cell patients is just beginning. We know we need to raise awareness, but also to raise hopes and spirit in the SCD population. We're working on it.
We encourage Sickle Cell patients to visit the Stop the Sickle Cell Cycle YouTube channel to view inspirational videos. You can also join the network of people raising awareness about sickle cell disease on our Stop the Sickle Cycle Facebook page.
Cystic Fibrosis Patients at the Hospital for a "Tune-Up" - We know this can sometimes mean a couple of weeks being room bound. We feel for you and will make every effort to visit you and help make the time pass faster. We will, of course, observe the precautions for infection control. With your doctor's permission you are welcome in the Teen Lounge with a mask/gown. We also have created a special invitation only CF website, called Voicebox, to allow CF teens to interact while room bound or at home.
Cystic Fibrosis Patients Transitioning to Adult Care - Thanks to a generous donor, we have a transition program that celebrates the move from pediatrics to adult care. We have a graduation dinner at BJ’s restaurant (who supports CF through sale of their pazookies), a CF yearbook, and a personal video that walks you through the adult care system at Shands. The CF donation money also supports other CF projects such as a newsletter, the up-keep of Voicebox, and t-shirts for Streetlight patients and team members.
Transplant Patients - Sometimes transplant patients wait a long time for their transplant and then more time for post-transplant recovery. We have team members that will support you consistently through this process.
Patients in the Hospital for Long Term Care - We will be there for you. Long term admissions can lead to depression and despair. We will help keep your spirits up, and provide company and diversion - whatever it is you need.
Patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - We will visit you if we have known you from previous visits, or if we are asked to see you by a doctor, nurse or social worker.
Patients on Other Floors -
If you are located on other floors because there is not room on the pediatric floor, or because you are in the process of transitioning to adult care call us or have your nurse, social worker, or doctor call us. We will provide what we can to make your stay better. Some of the TVs on the adult floors do not take movies or video games, but we can always watch your favorite TV show with you!
CALL US FROM ANY HOSPITAL PHONE 50917, or if you are on your way into the hospital call us at 352-265-0917.
NOTE: Because the Streetlight team is made up of UF students there are times in the year when the team is too small to operate Lounge or do much visitation. If you don't see us, that may be the reason - but still give us a call!
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