Good News to Share: Breast Cancer Program Medical Director Makes House Calls in the Wake of the Pandemic

For ease and safety during COVID-19, physician is visiting patients at home

SANTA MARIA, CA – April 20, 2020 – Monica Rocco, MD, a breast surgeon at  Mission Hope Cancer Center is offering to make house calls to the most vulnerable patients over 65 years old or those who have just been newly diagnosed with cancer. 

“Cancer doesn’t stop because of a pandemic,” says Dr. Rocco. “With the shelter at home mandate in place, we still want to ensure our patients feel cared for and safe; now more than ever.” 

Dr. Rocco takes full precautions when she makes house calls to protect herself and her patients. She wears appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and she cleans her stethoscope before and after each visit.  “The safety of my patients and myself are imperative,” says Dr. Rocco.

If you’d like to interview Dr. Rocco and get video of her making a house call please contact Sara San Juan at [email protected] or call (805) 739-3574. We can provide still photos as well. 

[Photos: Left: Dr. Monica Rocco, Right: Patient Colleen Wade and Dr. Monica Rocco] 

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Marian Regional Medical Center
Marian Regional Medical Center, located in Santa Maria, California, is rated among the top 10% in the nation for cardiac care and its cancer program is distinguished as the only comprehensive Community Cancer Center on the Central Coast.  The need to meet the demand for quality, technologically-advanced care for a growing community led Marian to open its doors to a new state-of-the-art, 191-bed facility in the spring of 2012.  The new facility houses the largest and most comprehensive perinatology/neonatology service providing the most compassionate, quality care to the littlest of patients. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.