By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Cancer patients in northern Maine will benefit greatly from a $2 million gift awarded to TAMC by the Next Generation Foundation.
One million dollars is designated to support efforts currently underway to establish the new Aroostook Cancer Care Center, which include a new linear accelerator, new integrated software, an expanded chemotherapy infusion area, as well as an expanded palliative care program.
The other $1 million will establish an endowment for the Aroostook Cancer Care Patient Assistance Fund, which will include direct support to assist patients with accessing treatment, including supporting transportation and other associated costs with receiving care that are otherwise not covered and present financial hardship to those who cannot afford it.
“These funds will also support the work of TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care Nurse Navigator,” explained TAMC President/CEO Sylvia Getman. “The nurse navigator assists cancer patients with appointments, prescription validation, insurance confirmation, transportation, financial challenges, emotional support and counseling, coordinating family overnight accommodations, confirming referrals, and more.”
Getman said the Next Generation Foundation grant is the “most significant charitable donation” TAMC has received in its 103-year history.
“How fitting that their name is the Next Generation Foundation because with that gift, they’re going to ensure that the next generation of patients are going to continue to be able to get the kind of care that they need here in Aroostook County,” said Getman.
The gift was announced recently in the new cancer treatment atrium that is still under construction and is expected to be completed in June. The chemotherapy infusion space will be part of a renovated and expanded Aroostook Cancer Care Center at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Arjun Sood, lead oncologist at Aroostook Cancer Care, said the atrium is being created with “patient comfort in mind.”
“Chemotherapy patients spend long hours in chairs,” he said. “We know that healing is a mind-body relationship, and this more comfortable space should help our patients have more pleasant sensations and hopefully have them achieve better outcomes.
“I can attest to the significant impact this grant will have on our ability to deliver the right care, at the right place, at the right time. This will positively impact cancer outcomes for our patients. Improving cancer outcomes is the ultimate goal all cancer providers strive to achieve,” said Sood. “We are all excited about the new level of patient-centered, evidence-based and quality-oriented care, convenience and comfort that our new comprehensive Aroostook Cancer Care Center will provide to our patients from The County.”
Randy Bacon, director of ancillary services, said for more than 40 years, the hospital has been the only source of radiation therapy in northern Maine.
“For the last 12 years, we’ve operated the only linear accelerator without which cancer patients in need of radiation therapy would be required to travel to Bangor for daily treatments — treatments that can last up to eight weeks,” he said. “While our current equipment has served us well, it is nearing the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. Over the next few months, TAMC will be installing a new, state-of-the-art system.
“A linear accelerator is a complex and precise piece of equipment whose basic function is to deliver a powerful radiation beam to shrink a patient’s tumor,” said Bacon. “Treatments will be performed using a computer-controlled mechanism, which shapes the radiation beam in a continuous sweep throughout the treatment and varies the intensity of the beam in real time, resulting in improved care and faster treatments for patients.”
Robert Umphrey, vice chair of the EMHS Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with TAMC and other EMHS member organizations, community members, businesses, foundations and employees to raise private funds to support the mission of providing excellent health care in Maine, spoke to the significance of the gift and all contributions that help advance patient care and comfort.
“I want to join in the chorus of voices expressing gratitude to the trustees of the Next Generation Foundation for their support toward the efforts that you see around you today and for the support that patients of Aroostook Cancer Care will receive through this amazing generosity,” he said. “A project such as this would not be possible without the support of the Aroostook County community and others — as is witnessed today.”
Though representatives from the Next Generation Foundation have been in regular communication with TAMC officials, they wished to remain anonymous.
“In the true spirit of what the Next Generation Foundation hopes to accomplish both here at TAMC and across the state of Maine,” said Umphrey, “they wanted today’s announcement to be about the people who will benefit from their generosity and not about them; that’s why they’re not here with us today.”
The Next Generation Foundation was established in 2000 and launched a large grants program in 2014. They received 726 letters of inquiry from which they selected 115 to submit full proposals. From May to November 2014, they made 80 site visits and are in the process of awarding grants to 79 organizations, including TAMC.
Betty Dumond of Portage, an Aroostook Cancer Care’s patient, shared her story with those gathered, which included multiple diagnoses and treatment over the years for stage four breast cancer, lung cancer, a brain tumor, and thyroid cancer.
“I am here today because of the love and support of my family, and the wonderful care provided by my other family here at Aroostook Cancer Care. We are all so very fortunate to have this level of care close to home,” she said. “I don’t know how I would have been able to manage my treatments had this service not been here. I needed my family and friends nearby to support me. That support network was here in The County — and I am thankful every day that I was able to receive my care right here. It made all the difference.”
The 14-year cancer survivor expressed her appreciation to the donors for the major gift.
“I want to thank the trustees of the Next Generation Foundation. Your support will help hundreds and thousands of future County residents who hear the three dreaded words, ‘You have cancer,’” said Dumond. “Your generosity will help ensure there are no barriers to receiving the best possible care right here at home.”
Gene Lynch II, chair of the TAMC board of trustees, called the grant both an investment in The County, and in its people.
“With this $2 million gift we take the next step in bringing the most technologically advanced and comprehensive care that has ever been available to the people in this region,” he said. “We are committed to offering a high level and top quality care right here in Aroostook County. We wrap the latest technology with a most caring and competent team of providers and other health care professionals.
“Our vision to be the best rural health care organization in America is certainly attainable, and with significant support such as this — from those who acknowledge the fine work of our caregiving team — we are well on our way,” said Lynch.
The general contractor for the project is A&L Construction of Presque Isle. Soderberg Construction of Caribou will complete the earthwork. Subcontractors working on the project include County Electric, Sullivan’s Floor Covering and Staples Construction, all of Caribou; and Aroostook Plumbing and Heating of Presque Isle. The concrete work for the linear accelerator is being completed by Hogan Construction of Houlton.
The total project cost is $4,050,000. Of that, $2.1 million is for the new linear accelerator, while the remaining is for construction, renovation, other technology and equipment, including new oncology treatment chairs.
To conclude the gift announcement, Dumond led current and former patients, along with family members and friends of those whose lives have been touched by cancer, as well as medical center officials, in placing their signatures on a main support beam for the new atrium treatment space. The symbolic gesture demonstrated the strong family and community support that strengthens the resolve of county residents undergoing cancer treatment receive as they battle the disease.
