Clinical Services

The New Oncology Program in Psychology (NOPP) systematically assesses all new oncology patients for developmental, cognitive, and psychosocial strengths and difficulties. Every newly diagnosed oncology patient at St. Jude completes a two-part visit, including a health and behavior assessment and a cognitive screen. Findings are used to identify those at increased risk who may benefit from tailored psychosocial services. NOPP aims to align St. Jude practice with the Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families.

As part of NOPP, all families receive individualized psychoeducation and anticipatory guidance based on identified patient needs and medical diagnosis. Ongoing psychological intervention and other psychosocial services are provided as needed. Baseline cognitive screen results are used to plan follow-up assessment and intervention, ranging from serial screening to individualized, comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. 

Additionally, results are shared with the St. Jude School Program to inform educational programming while the child receives medical treatment at St. Jude and, in turn, are used to inform school re-entry when the patient is medically able. This approach improves patient access to educational accommodations and services to support academic success. 

Although this initiative is designed as a clinical service, the Psychology Clinic captures the clinical data in a repository, which is available for investigators interested in answering research questions about cognitive and psychological outcomes in patients with cancer and in cancer survivors via retrospective studies. 

TOP is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families. The program focuses on the needs of patients and families as they near the end of treatment and ensures the continuation and coordination of their care until they enter the After Completion of Therapy (ACT) Clinic. The TOP team meets regularly to coordinate patients’ care across multiple disciplines.

In the Psychology Clinic, patients seen by the TOP team complete a two-part visit including a health and behavior assessment and a cognitive and academic screen as they prepare to transition off cancer-directed therapy. Their families receive psychoeducation and anticipatory guidance based on individual needs and assessment results.

Results of cognitive and academic screening guide seamless coordination with the School Program, and school advocacy coordinators utilize written reports to assist with recommendation implementation at the patients’ local schools. Findings from this two-part visit also inform referrals for community services, such as ongoing mental health support and/or additional assessment. 

The Sickle Cell Assessment of Neurocognitive Skills (SCANS) is a clinical program that serially assesses all St. Jude patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Assessments are completed in the Psychology Clinic every four years beginning at age 8, to align with preparations for major academic transitions (i.e., from elementary to middle school, from middle to high school, and from high school to further educational and career decision-making).

Multiple areas of neurobehavioral functioning are evaluated, including verbal, visual spatial, attention, processing speed, executive functioning, academic, and social-emotional domains. Results from the SCANS assessment, which are detailed in a written report for the family, aid in the development of an education plan, a nursing care plan, and a transitional plan to adult care. 

When patients and families consent, the clinical data from the SCANS program is included in a large, longitudinal protocol—Sickle Cell Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP)—intended to collect data on patients with SCD from birth to end of life. The non-therapeutic clinical trial is operated by the Department of Hematology and strives to evaluate health outcomes of patients with SCD. 

As patients with SCD age out of pediatric care and transition to adult care, it is imperative to maintain treatment continuity. To ensure this continuity, St. Jude collaborates with Methodist University Hospital to help patients with SCD and their families successfully navigate this transition. 

An experienced team of medical providers, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, and case managers provide patients and families the education, planning, and transition skill-building necessary to assume responsibility for independent management of SCD treatment as an adult.

Read more about the St. Jude-Methodist Sickle Cell Disease Transition Clinic.