Oncologia e Hematologia no Einstein: um ecossistema “molecular first” 

Organization follows the trend of personalization of cancer care based on molecular biology, the incorporation of new technologies and a team of excellence

Previously, cancer treatment was based on tumor site origin and extent. The protocols were similar for all patients who had the same diagnosis. With abetter understanding of tumor biology and advances in molecular diagnostic technologies (such as next-generation sequencing), we are currently able to identify the mutations present in the cancer of each individual. Thus, opportunities are opened for treatments to be personalized, offering better clinical results and a better experience for the patient, throughout their journey.

"Einstein's differentiator is the creation of a unique and complete ecosystem, which encompasses the necessary points for high quality care," says Nam Jin Kim, the organization's medical director of Oncology.

When it comes to cutting-edge technology and treatments, Einstein incorporates trends ranging from Interventional Medicine (for example, with radioembolization in liver metastases) to robotic surgeries, through personalization of care, which includes genetic examinations, advanced immunotherapies and cell therapy.

The multidisciplinary team consists of professionals who are continuously trained – Einstein has a teaching center that allows for continuous education. In fact, the organization manages the Gilson de Cássia Marques de Carvalho Municipal Hospital – Vila Santa Catarina, a reference in Oncology within the SUS, which even offers robotic surgery, and several other units in the public network. Among other advantages, this allows physicians to expand their experience, serving a greater volume of patients with different complexities, who, in turn, benefit from referral care and a coordinated care journey.

Finally, the organization's ecosystem has a recognized research center, where cutting-edge studies in Oncology and Hematology are carried out. So much so that Einstein was the first to receive authorization from Anvisa to conduct Brazilian research in the treatment of lymphomas and leukemias with the use of CAR-T Cells, one of the forms of cell therapy.

This structure reverts to positive numbers. In internal analyses, the satisfaction score of breast cancer patients treated in an outpatient setting and of prostate cancer patients who were hospitalized exceeds 90 (on a scale of -100 to 100). In the index used – the Net Promoter Score (NPS) –, this level is considered excellent.

No wonder, Einstein was elected the best hospital in Latin America in Oncology in the World's Best Specialized Hospitals ranking, organized by the American magazine Newsweek. It also received certification from the respected American Society of Clinical Oncology, Asco, which also extended to the Vila Santa Catarina Municipal Hospital, in the public network.

"We constantly review care processes and protocols to improve the patient experience and incorporate the most modern technologies that maximize the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. Understanding the molecular signature of tumors is essential for the personalized approach and, therefore, prioritizing molecular diagnosis becomes a priority”, points out Vanessa Teich, director of Transformation in Oncology and Hematology. "In this context, the concept of ‘molecular first’ was established within our Oncology and Hematology. We organized the entire oncology journey around precision oncology”, she concludes.

This means setting up an operation that sees cancer beyond its location. Through molecular examinations of tumor tissue and other methods, particularities of that person's disease are identified, which help to personalize the treatment and discard what will be of little use to each person. The extreme individualization of care, including prevention and screening, is where Oncology advances – and where Einstein is increasingly preparing.

"The materialization of Einstein's oncology vision is our Cancer Center, which is under construction," says Nam Jin Kim. It will open in 2027, with an impressive infrastructure that includes:

• 180 beds, for different purposes (from bone marrow transplantation to ICU)
• 10 operating rooms, 4 robotic and 1 hybrid
• 35 offices
• 43 chemotherapy boxes
• 3 radiation therapy accelerators
• 2 MRIs and 2 CT scans

The hospital structure and technology park cover 40,000 square meters. It is a concept where the patient meets all their medical needs in the same place, which guarantees agility to the treatment. The One-stop shop model allow for a complete understanding of the disease, including molecular diagnosis and immediate treatment initiation.