News and Blog

Dec
17
Provision Nashville staff poses with its ASTRO APEx Accreditation certificate

Press Ganey, ASTRO recognize Provision for Culture and Quality of Care

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Provision is excited to announce that we have recently received distinguished recognition from two separate, well-reputed organizations in the healthcare industry. Provision CARES Proton Therapy Nashville was awarded the Press Ganey 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award®, garnering national attention for our Culture of Care for the second year in a row. In addition, Provision Nashville also achieved accreditation from the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s Accreditation Program for Excellence® (APEx), further demonstrating our commitment to excellence in safety and quality in patient-centered care.

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Nov
05
Provision celebrates #WeWhoCurie on International Day of Medical Physics

Celebrating the role of medical physics in patient safety

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Each year on November 7th, we celebrate the birthday of one of the great minds of science, a pioneer in the medical physics world, and an inspiration for women around the world – Marie Curie.

The International Day of Medical Physics falls on Madame Curie’s birthday, as does another movement to recognize women who excel in a historically male-driven field – #WeWhoCurie. On this day, Provision CARES Proton Therapy wants to recognize our own medical physicists, who play a vital role in keeping patients safe, as well as all the amazing women who are part of our team.

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Oct
12
Provision takes healthcare safety and security very seriously

‘Healthcare Safety & Security Week’ highlights Provision’s commitment to patients

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Each year during the second week of October, healthcare facilities around the country recognize “Healthcare Security & Safety Week.” This is a chance to send our appreciation to all the professionals out there who work hard to make sure the facilities we rely on for our healthcare needs are safe and secure. This includes everything from the physical safety of patients and staff to virtual security of medical records and personal health information.

Provision is 100% committed to the health and safety of our patients and staff, as well as the security of their private information. Not only have we implemented robust safety policies and training, but we’ve even designated several staff members to serve on our dedicated Safety Committee.

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Sep
24
Knowing the common prostate cancer risk factors can help men detect the disease earlier

Prostate cancer risk factors: What men should know to help with early detection

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One of the keys to detecting prostate cancer early is understanding the most common risk factors. Since September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, this article will focus on raising awareness of early detection. By knowing which groups of men are most at risk, you’ll be better equipped to make educated decisions about when to begin screening and what to ask your doctor.

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Sep
10
Members of Blue Origin's Radiation Effects Team pose while testing space travel equpiment at Provision CARES Proton Therapy Knoxville

How protons created an unlikely connection between cancer treatment and space travel

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What do you envision when you look at the sky and think of outer space?

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Merek Chertkow of Blue Origin, an aerospace company whose mission is to benefit the Earth by one day sending millions of people to live and work in space. (Side note: Just days after we spoke to him, Blue Origin made headlines by successfully completing New Shepard’s first human flight!)

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Aug
12
Eddie Check offers men an annual PSA test for prostate cancer free of charge

Annual event offers free PSA test for prostate cancer to combat delay in cancer screenings

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The COVID pandemic has led to an increase in delayed cancer screenings. Many people postponed routine tests that could help with early detection, such as the PSA test for prostate cancer. That made this year’s Eddie Check more important than ever. After postponing the annual blood drive and free PSA screening event in 2020 due to COVID, organizers got to work to make sure the 2-day event would return in 2021. On Thursday, September 9 and Friday, September 10, hundreds of men across East Tennessee received a free PSA screening, which can indicate various prostate issues, such as infection, inflammation, or even cancer.

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Apr
20
Felicia rings the bell after completing proton therapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer patient says proton therapy allowed her to ‘go on with life’

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The way Felicia sees it, her cancer journey wasn’t a marathon. It wasn’t even just one race. Instead, it was a series of short courses, each with its own finish line.

And proton therapy was her final finish line. The one that meant the most.

“I took it in chunks. I looked at everything as a finish line,” she says. “Like going through chemo. Just get to that finish line. And proton therapy is my last finish line, so I’m excited!”

The road to that final finish line included mountains of research. She chose to be her own health advocate and made sure she knew each and every one of her treatment options. Ultimately, she took a path that led her to Provision CARES Proton Therapy.

“I still have a lot of life ahead of me. I’ve got things I want to do. Proton therapy makes me feel like my cancer is truly out of me and I’m done. Let’s go on with life. Let’s move forward!”

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Mar
29
Cancer patient holding covid vaccine information card

COVID vaccine and cancer: What patients need to know

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It seems like new information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is coming out every day. Most recently, the development and availability of vaccines have stirred up many questions, as well as some confusion. The influx of COVID vaccine information (and misinformation) can be even more daunting for cancer patients and survivors.

To help cancer patients better understand the vaccines, Provision CARES Proton Therapy hosted a special chat session with our Proton Ambassadors. Dr. James Gray, Medical Director and board-certified Radiation Oncologist at our Nashville center, gave a great presentation on “COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer: Facts vs. Fiction.”

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Mar
16

The importance of nutrition for cancer prevention, management, and survivorship

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March is National Nutrition Month – an opportune time to raise awareness about the important role of nutrition for cancer prevention, cancer management, and survivorship.

Nutrition is an often overlooked, but essential, piece of the puzzle when considering a cancer patient’s overall health. That’s why we’ve invited our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Jennifer Wilson, to be this month’s guest blogger.

In this article, Jennifer outlines a few keys to nutritional success that can help lower your risk of cancer. She also discusses how cancer patients can help manage their nutrition during treatment, along with some tips to continue living a healthy life after treatment.

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