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 What are your office hours? Are you accessible after hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are closed most major holidays. For assistance after hours, all of our patients have access to our board-certified and medically licensed staff members’ personal phone numbers. If you have an emergency, please call 911.
What types of treatment do you do?
Treatments available at Wind River Oncology include medical oncology and hematology. On-site services, such as laboratory, diagnostic imaging, nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and massage therapy, allow patients to receive most of their cancer services in one convenient location.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is the art of treating physical, emotional, and spiritual symptoms of chronic illness. Such healing services are offered to patients regardless of their ultimate prognosis without affecting our ability to also administer chemotherapy treatments and surgery.
Can I bring a family member or friend to my appointments?
We welcome and encourage friends and family members. The amount of information received at appointments can be overwhelming, and having someone to listen and take notes can help you retain more information following your appointment. Providing there is room available, friends and family members also are allowed in the chemotherapy infusion room during treatments.
Who do I ask about my bill?
Contact HighPoint Medical Inc. of Idaho at (208) 416-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.
Do I need to bring my insurance cards to every visit?
Please present all of your current insurance cards to the receptionist at each doctor visit. This includes drug prescription cards. It is important for us to maintain your current insurance information. Please notify the receptionist of any changes to your insurance status as soon as possible.
Will my insurance plan pay for treatment? What if it will not?
As a patient, it is your responsibility to ensure that your insurance company has been contacted to pre-certify or confirm benefits regarding your anticipated procedures and care at Wind River Oncology. If your insurance company does not cover treatment at our facility, you may ask for possible ways to obtain this coverage. You may also ask if they will cover a consultation with our physician. It may be possible to achieve coverage after you have been evaluated by our physician.
If I have a question about my schedule, who do I call?
Call our main line at 307-856-4688. Our receptionist is happy to answer your scheduling questions.
When is my next appointment?
You should receive a new appointment card with each physician visit. If you have a question about an appointment, please call our main number and speak with our receptionist.
How do I contact a nurse?
During regular hours, call our main line at 307-856-4688 and ask for a nurse. Wind River Oncology patients will have access to a nurse’s personal number for questions during off hours.
If I live out of town and need lab tests or diagnostic imaging, do I have to come to Wind River Oncology for this?
No. Your doctor or nurse can give you a prescription for your tests, and you may go to a facility closer to home. The facility will fax the test results to us, and we can notify you if there are any problems.
When will I get my results?
It may take several days for our physician to receive results from your tests. We may contact you after the results are available or schedule a follow-up visit to review your results with you.
Can I eat while I’m being treated?
Yes. It is advised that you eat a light meal before each treatment. You may bring a lunch with you if you will be here for a long period of time.
Do you have a cafeteria?
Yes. There is a cafeteria located in the hospital. We also provide light snacks, such as coffee, juices, sodas, water, fruit, yogurt, bakery items, chips, and sandwiches.
Is it okay to take something for my cold?
Most over-the-counter remedies are okay; however, if you are taking multiple medications prescribed by other physicians, you may want to check with them before taking anything.
What can I take for pain if my medication is not working?
Inform your doctor or nurse. Your doctor may need to change your prescription or prescribe an additional pain reliever to be taken with the original medication. Do not take any medications containing aspirin if you are receiving chemotherapy.
What can chemotherapy achieve?
Some kinds of cancer can actually be cured with chemotherapy. Many others can be put in remission, which means shrunken partially and prevented from growing for a period of time. When the tumor shrinks so much that it cannot be detected by examination and x-rays, it is called a “complete remission.” A complete remission does not necessarily mean cure.
How long will treatments last?
There are few standard rules on how often chemotherapy is given, as every tumor is different. Every chemotherapy treatment is tailored to fit your disease. Many kinds of chemotherapy are given every three weeks, but sometimes a better result can come from smaller doses every week.
Who administers chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is administered by Oncology Certified Nurses and Registered Nurses who have received certification in chemotherapy and biotherapy administration.
When will we know if the chemotherapy is working?
Our physician will outline a treatment plan for you and will do follow-up tests as needed, depending on your cancer diagnosis, at different intervals during your therapy. This varies from patient to patient.
How soon will I get sick?
Nausea or vomiting after chemotherapy has been greatly minimized with the use of anti-nausea drugs that have been developed in the past several years for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Our physician chooses the most appropriate anti-nausea medication according to the type of chemotherapy you receive. Not all chemotherapies cause nausea. If you experience these symptoms, please contact a nurse.
What do I do for diarrhea or constipation?
If you are having a problem with either, please call and speak to a nurse.
How soon will my hair fall out?
If your chemotherapy causes hair loss, it usually starts to come out within 2 weeks of the first treatment. Some chemotherapies do not cause hair loss, some cause thinning and some cause complete loss.
Why am I losing my hair?
Hair loss is a side effect of some chemotherapy agents and is only temporary. Your hair will grow back after your treatments are completed.
What can I do about my loss of appetite?
Loss of appetite is a normal side effect of chemotherapy and sometimes is the result of your disease. Chemotherapy may also change your taste buds; favorite foods may now become tasteless or even disliked.
Make every effort to eat balanced meals on a regular basis, even when you prefer not to eat.
Ask to talk with our dietician; a dietician can offer nutritional advice, programs and supplements.
What do I do for fatigue and weakness?
If you are on chemotherapy, fatigue and weakness are common side effects and the result of your disease.
Try to eat balanced meals.
Get plenty of rest.
Try to maintain your normal activities, if possible.
Allow yourself time to rest between activities.
Contact your physician or nurse if the condition persists.
What do I do about mouth sores?
Mouth sores are a side effect of some chemotherapy agents. Inform your doctor or nurse about the sores.
What is a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and why do we do them?
A CBC measures the white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (hemoglobin and hematocrit), and platelets in the blood. White blood cells help fight infection, red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues, and platelets helping with clotting of the blood. CBCs are necessary prior to each chemotherapy treatment to assess the treatment’s effect on your bone marrow.
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