b'80 % model and apply it to other cancersHislop: There are multiple touchpoints, too. We are here for me financially. What do I do? We have a software program that allows us to maximize everything for those patientspatients at any point in their cancer journey.the insurance, Medicaid applications, COBRA coverage. Alight also provides up to $1,000 for newly diagnosedWhat has come together to make now the right time to patients that had a demonstrated need. As we take thisexpand?Jones: Skip has spearheaded this effort to increase the NATURE and campuses, there are so manysupport services available to cancer patientsnot just for The outdoors offer programs and so much opportunitywomen experiencing breast and gynecological cancers, but inner peace to help people.to patients diagnosed with all cancers. Ive wanted Alight to become an integrated system of support for all of Cone EDUCATION When Cone Health absorbed AlightHealths cancer patients within all of their hospital settings. Learning empowersand brought the program inside theI believed it would happen. For Skip to embrace the same decision makingCancer Center, how did you createvision was such a blessing. His hard work and efforts have MENTAL HEALTH such a successful transition? made this happen.Emotional health Jones: It was a trust walk. Alight balances & sustains wanted to make a bigger impact andWhat will it take to expand Alight programming across all we desperately wanted to have directcancers and campuses?FINANCIALpatient contact. The only and best ASSISTANCE Hislop: We have to add human beingssocial workers, Emergency funds way to do that was to be on-site atdietitians, pastoral care, case managers, care managers. provide basic needs Cone Health. We approached themCancer care is so complex. There are so many moving pieces and worked out a plan to comeand parts. Patients need people to quarterback their care. on-site and it just took off fromWe need to stay focused on always creating a seamless there. We had the right leadershiptransition of care. We need to keep asking how we connect in place and we took the right stepspeople and get them to where they need to go. We need to forward. We trained former patientsmake investments that allow us to have people in place at to become Alight Guides, who areevery turn to make sure that patients get what they need, no paired directly with newly diagnosedmatter what that is. I firmly believe in that, and thats what patients. It took off and a lot of people are to thank for that,were working toward with an expansion of Alight. including Melissa Vogelsinger, former Alight Foundation Executive Director.What is the spirit of Alight? What makes it so successful?Hislop: Its who we are. This is just the kind of care that we Hislop: Once we realized that we are on the same path, itbelieve in providing patients every day. We show up and its was very easy to move things forward. There were grow- who we are and how we are. We want all patients to have ing pains, but we worked through it because we all knewthe best experience possible given their circumstances and bringing Alight on-site was the right thing to do for ourthat would be the Alight experience. If you get cancer and patients. From the start, I always thought that the biggeryou are at Cone Health, you get the Alight experience. It picture would be that this could be a program for every kindreally is about having an army of people who can take care of cancer patient. Over the years working with Mary, we bothof cancer patients and all of their needs. had that lightbulb and since then we knew this was the right direction to go for our community and for our patients.Jones: Its all about compassionate care. Alight represents a light of hope so patients can focus on what they need to do Where does the handoff from clinical care to Alight care happen?to get better and regain their health. Jones: Its really seamless. Its so hard to sep-arate the two. Its all a part of this exciting work to constantly improve the patient experience and provide the highest quality patient care to give patients outstanding outcomes. Once you receive a diagnosis, both the ConeMake a donation toHealth providers and the Alight team ask, What can we do? IAlight Integrative Care dont know how you separate what Alight does from the overall treatment that is provided byVisit conehealthphilanthropy.org or contact the team Cone Health. Were all advocates. at philanthropy@conehealth.com or 336.832.9452Impact Report 202119'