Phase II of the Cancer Care Center Opens in 2012

Area chemotherapy and IV therapy patients started utilizing the new treatment bays in the Cancer Care suite at Sidney Health Center in October 2012.

Thanks to many people who donated to the Foundation for Community Care’s Cancer Care Campaign, construction of Phase II became a reality for cancer patients and survivors who had indicated the project should be a high-priority in a 2011 assessment. A large anonymous donation to the Foundation made it possible for Sidney Health Center to start the bidding process of Phase II and begin construction this past spring.

With Phase II complete, all outpatient cancer care services are centralized in one convenient location in the Sidney Health Center Clinic. Previously, medical oncology patients received chemotherapy and IV therapy treatments in the emergency room department.

Now cancer patients and their families can use the new private entrance located on 14th Avenue Southwest. The new entrance features a circular driveway for easy access to the Cancer Care area with a designated parking lot for those going through cancer treatment.

“This is a dream come true for area cancer patients,” stated Judy Carda, Cancer Care Service Manager. “The new area offers a private, relaxed setting for patients and allows us to work closely with radiation oncology staff on a daily basis.”

Phase II of the project involved renovating Suite 103 in the clinic and building a private entrance to the Cancer Care Center. The renovation included adding four chemotherapy and IV therapy infusion rooms with a centralized nursing station as well as providing designated clinic space for the medical oncologist.

In January 2011, Sidney Health Center expanded its outpatient cancer services to include radiation therapy when it opened Phase I of the Cancer Care suite. Sidney Health Center installed a TomoTherapy Hi-Art radiation treatment system, which is the first of its kind in Montana.

Unlike traditional radiation therapy equipment, the TomoTherapy system combines CT scan imaging with treatment delivery, ensuring the most accurate radiation treatment with the fewest side effects. Every time a patient comes for treatment, he/she gets a CT image.

Dr. Lyle Harrison, radiation oncologist, is the medical director for the Cancer Care services at Sidney Health Center. He is on-site full time to serve the radiation therapy patients. Dr. Jorge Nieva, medical oncologist, also works closely with the Cancer Care staff on a regular basis and holds clinics two days each month in the newly designed space.

To find out more about the Cancer Care services offered at Sidney Health Center, visit the website at http://www.sidneyhealth.org/services/cancer-care.