Multiple Myeloma Support Services

The Myeloma Institute has enlisted a group of veteran patients to serve as advisors and sounding boards for new patients.

Veteran patients know better than anyone what new patients are going through. They can be good listeners, offer advice, and alleviate concerns.

The program is purely optional. New patients who would like to be contacted by a long-term patient can let the Intake Office know. We will then arrange for one of the veteran patient volunteers to contact the new patient.

Click here to offer any comments you might have about your care at the Myeloma Institute. Your suggestions will help our Patient Feedback for Quality Improvement Committee maintain and upgrade the quality of the services provided at the Myeloma Institute.

Behavioral Medicine
The Behavioral Medicine Program focuses on the interaction between medical and psychosocial aspects of cancer. Patients are provided with self-management skills to reduce stress, improve coping, alter behavioral risk factors, and enhance quality of life. Please call (501) 686-8700 for more information.

Sonja McCohn is the Myeloma Institute's Customer Service/Intake Office Manager. She can assist with questions you may have about your appointments or concerns related to your visits. Sonja can be reached at 501-804-3557.

Social Services Consultation
MIRT social workers are available to offer patients and their families a combination of emotional, social, advocacy, resource, and counseling support. Patients are given information about housing options for the long or short term, transportation, and support group meetings. They are also given area maps, handouts of helpful hints from former patients, and names of organizations that may offer financial assistance etc. Social workers assist in ensuring that everything runs smoothly during treatment. A primary goal of the social services staff is to help patients create a home away from home during their stay.

Patient Education Classes

New Patient Orientation (designed for new patients)
Monday, 4:00–5:00 pm
Wednesday, 8:30–9:30 am

MIRT VIEW (designed for return patients)
Monday 3:00-4:00 pm
Wednesday, 9:30–10:30 am

Classes are held every week in the Patient/Family Lounge on the 1st floor of the Stephens Spine Institute. Classes are open to patients, family members and caregivers.

Patient Partners
The Oasis Renewal Center is a non-denominational center for spiritual renewal, located in a peaceful, rural setting about 15 miles from UAMS. The Oasis Renewal Center, in coordination with ACRC Volunteer Services and the ACRC Social Work Department, sponsors a program for bone marrow transplant patients and their families. Oasis volunteers offer friendship and information to Myeloma Institute patients who are in Little Rock for long periods of time.

Support Groups
Patient and family support groups provide a meaningful way for patients and family members to share common concerns, as well as practical suggestions for coping with cancer. A variety of educational and support groups are available. Please contact (501) 686-8145 for information.

The Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy and UAMS are pleased to provide you with an e-mail service to send greetings to your friends, family and loved ones while they are patients here at UAMS. We will make every effort to deliver your message in a timely manner. E-mails received before 2 PM during the business week will be printed on special stationery and hand delivered to the patient's room by UAMS personnel. E-mails received after 2 PM will be delivered the next business day. Every effort will be made to deliver your message. Discharged patient's email messages will not be delivered or forwarded. Click here to access the e-mail system.

Meets every Wednesday, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., UAMS Family Home, 4300 Markham Street (at corner of Markham and Rose Streets)

Volunteer Services
ACRC and UAMS Volunteer Services and Auxiliary support patients and families by offering extra help, care and concern. The ACRC and UAMS Volunteers also sponsor gift shops located on the first floors of the ACRC and University Hospital.

Are you in Little Rock for an extended stay and looking for something to do?

ACRC Volunteer Services would welcome your help.

More than 300 ACRC volunteers provide information, service, compassion and hope to those whose lives are touched by cancer. They work at the ACRC and Myeloma Institute on a regular basis or help with special events each year. Most visible are the patient care volunteers who serve in the public waiting areas and the volunteers who staff the gift shop.

For information, call Janie Lowe, Agnes Bass, or Carrie Wills at 501-686-8286.

Housing
We have arrangements with a number of hotels in Little Rock for special rates and services to Myeloma Institute patients. Additionally, for those patients who may have extended stays in Little Rock, there are apartment complexes that make furnished apartments available to our patients. We can help arrange lodging needs to maximize comfort and convenience.

Education Center
The Ottenheimer Education Center provides educational information and resources to patients and family members. Most patients find their situations easier to handle when they know the facts. The Education Center offers the latest information about prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A room is available for patients and families to view video material. No appointment is necessary. Health educators are available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. provides educational information and resources to patients and family members. Most patients find their situations easier to handle when they know the facts. The Education Center offers the latest information about prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A room is available for patients and families to view video material. No appointment is necessary. Health educators are available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A "New Patient Orientation" is conducted every Wednesday at 8.30 a.m. for new myeloma patients and family members. The orientation session provides the opportunity to learn about the program and facility from members of the patient care team (nurses, social workers, volunteers, etc).

Financial Counselors
Our financial counselors are available to assist patients in dealing with insurance companies throughout the entire treatment process. They are knowledgeable about billing, disability, and health insurance policy issues. We recognize that, in addition to medical and hospital expenses, there are travel, lodging and meal expenses, as well as expenses that may be required for child care, or that result from the patient's spouse needing to be away from work for an extended period. We offer assistance in these areas as well.

Language Interpreters
Patients from all over the world are seen at the ACRC and UAMS. Language interpreters, including interpreters in American Sign Language, are available.

CaringBridge is a non-profit organization that has offered free Web pages to those receiving care since 1997. CaringBridge has grown steadily since then and by the beginning of 2003 had hosted more than 10,000 personalized pages, with more than 33 million visits, and more than 1.4 million guestbook entries. Click here to find out to create a personal CaringBridge page.

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The information on the Myeloma Institute web site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical attention. The information is intended only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge. A physician should always be consulted for any health concern or medical condition. The Myeloma Institute web site provides links to other organizations as a service to our readers. The Myeloma Institute is not responsible for the information provided on other web sites.