Cary plans Cancer Center open house
State-of-art facility offers ‘patient centered’ environment
CARIBOU — Officials with Cary Medical Center, Pines Health Services and the Jefferson Cary Foundation have announced plans for an ‘Open House’ for the new Jefferson Cary Cancer Center.
Contributed photos
Dr. Nadia Rajack, left, Hematologist/Oncologist, and Dr. Regen Gallagher, Chief Medical Officer and Administrative Director of the new Jefferson Cary Cancer Center, continually monitored and reviewed plans during the construction/renovation project for the new facility. The Cancer Center is located in what was Cary’s Specialty and Oncology Clinic area in the hospital’s Chan Center. The Center features warm colors, comfortable furnishing, and private therapy/treatment areas for patients. Here, the two physicians stand at the central nurses/patient monitoring station next to the chemotherapy treatment areas which have outside window views for patients, providing a glimpse of the new Center in August just before the new furnishings are delivered and move in begins. The Center opened the first week of September.
Kaitlyn Umphrey, RN and Lynn James, RN, CDE, chemotherapy nurses, working at the central nurses/patient monitoring station in the Jefferson Cary Cancer Center at Cary Medical Center. Kaitlyn and Lynn are two experienced members of the Center’s health care team.
The public is cordially invited to the event which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
The new cancer center was established to accommodate a growing number of patients and the expanded Oncology Service at the hospital. Regen Gallagher, DO and Chief Medical Officer who has administrative responsibility for the Oncology Service, said that the new facility will offer a number of comforts for patients.
“We have been offering oncology services at Cary for a number of years,” said Gallagher, who helped coordinate the renovation project. “With our two new oncologists and the dramatic increase in patient volume we wanted to create a more comfortable, patient centered facility, particularly for our patients receiving chemotherapy treatments. We believe the new center will be very pleasing to patients and families and will offer a more efficient and pleasant environment for staff as well.”
The new cancer center has dramatically improved the chemotherapy treatment area. The area has been designed to provide patients with a window view during treatment. New chemotherapy chairs have been purchased and patients have the option of having curtains drawn for privacy or a more open area where they can visit with other patients experiencing therapy.
“Our new chairs are heated,” said Dr. Gallagher. “Many patients receiving chemotherapy are anemic and these chairs offer additional warmth and comfort. Patients also have different preferences in regard to the treatment experience,” she said. “Some patients prefer more privacy and some like to visit during their infusion which may often last for hours. We have done all we can to make this experience as comfortable as possible.”
The new center has a warm and inviting décor with soft colors and natural wood finishes. New cabinetry and central nurses work station open up the facility and create a brighter and open feel. The center will also feature prints by Presque Isle photographer Paul Cyr. The prints feature Aroostook County scenes.
In addition to the improved décor and furnishings the new center has also relocated the offices of the two oncologists, Dr. Allan Espinosa and Dr. Nadia Rajack.
“It is so much more convenient to have our offices and clinic located adjacent to the chemotherapy suite,” said Dr. Rajack. “This has allowed easy access to our patients and staff members, making communication much more effective and providing a more close-knit environment.”
Dr. Espinosa noted that the newly renovated facility will help to accommodate the growing number of patients and will offer a more comfortable caring environment.
“We have been very pleased with the growth of our service”, said Dr. Espinosa who comes to Cary from Vanderbilt University. “We wanted to create an environment that was pleasing to our patients and their families and would offer a unique and compassionate setting. We believe we have created that environment in this new center.”
During the cancer center open house light refreshments will be served and tours of the hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center will also be offered.
The Jefferson Cary Foundation conducted a fund-raising campaign to help with the cost of renovations for the new facility. More than $50,000 was raised towards the $250,000 cost. The hospital is now inviting individuals and organizations to consider naming specific designated areas of the facility through charitable donations.
For more information on the donor program or the open house please contact the Jefferson Cary Foundation at 493-4849.
