01. History

History of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center was founded in 1871 as “Presbyterian Hospital of Philadelphia.” It later became known as “Presbyterian Medical Center.” In 1995, it joined the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and got its current name, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. In the 2000s, it opened the Abramson Cancer Center, which has a top mesothelioma treatment program.

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is centrally located within Penn Medicine University City. This allows the center to offer patients seamless, integrated outpatient care with a wide range of specialties in one place. It also helps patients make appointments with the center’s top doctors and their care teams to collaborate more effectively.

02. Mesothelioma Care

Mesothelioma Care at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

The Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Pennsylvania provides patients with high-quality care. Their multidisciplinary team of experts offers cancer patients specialized care and personalized treatments.

The cancer center includes the Harron Lung Center, which houses the Pleural Disease Program. This program treats malignant mesothelioma and pleural tumors, among other pleural conditions.

The Pleural Disease Program’s mission is to provide “comprehensive and compassionate care at the highest level possible.” The program aims to improve patients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes. It also offers access to exclusive clinical trials that explore emerging treatments for mesothelioma.

Each patient’s medical team meets weekly to discuss their case in detail and choose the most promising mesothelioma treatment plan. They are also assigned a patient navigator to assist with questions, appointment scheduling and more.

03. Specializations

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Specializations

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Clinical trials for emerging treatments
• Emergency medicine
• Lung transplants
• Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery
• Radiology and imaging
• Surgical oncology
• Trauma care

04. Accreditations

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Accreditations

• 2022 – 2025 Recipient of Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award
• 2024 Award Winner of Fortune/PINC AI 100 TOP HOSPITALS List
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence
• American Heart Association (AHA) Gold Plus Award
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Status
• Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care by Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center
• Ranked in Top 100 of Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leaders

05. Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center offers many active clinical trials. Doctors can discuss recommended potential trials with patients and explain eligibility requirements.

The following clinical trials are in progress or actively recruiting participants at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center:

Pembrolizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy and Image-Guided Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM)

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Conditions: Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Malignant

Last Updated: November 1, 2022

Status: Recruiting

Locations: Philadelphia, PA.

Phase II Trial of Radical Pleurectomy With or Without Intraoperative PDT for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

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Conditions: Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Malignant

Last Updated: July 26, 2022

Status: Recruiting

Locations: Buffalo, NY. Philadelphia, PA.

Show All Clinical Trials

06. Hospital Services

Patient and Family Services at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

The Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center offers various support resources to patients and their loved ones. These programs and services aim to support both the emotional and physical effects of mesothelioma.

For mesothelioma patients, the Abramson Cancer Center offers:

• Counseling for Patients and Families
• Home Care Services
• Hospice
• Mindfulness Program
• Nutritional Counseling
• Palliative Care and Pain Management
• Patient Education
• Patient Navigators
• Stress Management
• Support Groups
• Survivorship Program
• Transportation

07. Offsite Services in Philadelphia

Patient and Family Services in the Philadelphia Area

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is located in the major metropolitan area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are many easily accessible resources nearby for mesothelioma patients and their families. These offsite services include cancer support groups, financial assistance, housing and survivorship programs.

Cancer Support Groups

• Cancer Support Community: Greater Philadelphia
• Doylestown Health: Cancer Support and Survivorship
• Fox Chase Cancer Center: Support Groups
• Jefferson Health: Jefferson Cancer Support and Welcome Center – Honickman Center

Counseling

• Cope Better Therapy: Coping With Cancer
• Fox Chase: Psycho-Oncology Program
• Psychology Today: Cancer Therapists in Philadelphia

Financial Assistance

• HEADstrong Foundation: Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation: Bret A. Rosenthal Patient Assistance Fund
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation: Patient Travel Grant Program
• Rachel’s Helping Hands Cancer Foundation

Hospice Care

• Crossroads Hospice: At-Home Services in Philadelphia Area
• Saint John’s Hospice
• Serenity Hospice
• Suncrest: Home & Hospice Care in Philadelphia
• VITAS Healthcare: Hospice Care

Housing

• American Cancer Society: AstraZeneca Hope Lodge
• HEADstrong Foundation: Nick’s House
• Hosts for Hospitals

Non-Emergency Transportation

• LifeMed Ambulance: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Provider in Philadelphia, PA
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP)
• Modivcare: Philadelphia County
• Uber Health: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Philadelphia, PA

Pain Management

• Art of Pain Management
• Pain Management Physicians
• Philadelphia Smart Pain & Wellness

Stress Management Programs

• Fox Chase Cancer Center: The Stress Management Program
• Jefferson Health: Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness
• Psychology Today: Stress Management Mindfulness Group

Survivorship Programs

• Fox Chase Cancer Center: Survivorship Program
• Jefferson Health: Neu Center for Supportive Medicine and Cancer Survivorship
• Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition: Cancer Survivorship Workgroup