Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - CH - 53

WEBSITE

Top-Notch Cancer Care
St. Catherine Hospital's new cancer center is taking shape in the east
wing of the hospital, 4321 Fir St., East Chicago. To learn more, call
219-392-7319 or visit COMHS.org.

getting to and from the hospital," Correa
explains. "As more procedures become
possible without a hospital stay, the
merits of offering world-class care in
aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-reach destination centers like the one that's taking
shape at St. Catherine Hospital are more
important now than ever before."
"Our new center will make care more
convenient, comfortable, efficient and
accessible," Correa explains. "It will
offer supportive oncology to reduce
challenges and break down barriers
for best possible outcomes in care and
patient experience."
Construction to expand the cancer center housing oncology services,
CyberKnife® and the infusion clinic
has been occurring in phases since
January 2019.
The nearly $1 million expansion project includes major enhancements to
the waiting room and reception area.
Private consultation rooms will be
added, along with spacious examination rooms for hematology and cancer
patients. The infusion clinic will double
in size. Each of the chemotherapy and
immunotherapy infusion bays is being
designed in a way that allows natural
light to fill the room. Some chemotherapy infusion treatment rooms will be
converted to private procedure areas.
Others will feature expansive picture
windows that look out onto the outdoor
healing garden.

Nourishment nooks, media consoles, an open-concept nursing station,
pharmaceutical counter and access to
the Cancer Resource Centre library of
educational materials are some of the
many new features of the expansion.
Patients will also have access to hospital services outside the suites, including
psychiatric services, nutritional services, physical and occupational therapy, smoking cessation programs and
psychosocial support.

Growing Level of Care

When the cancer center debuts this
summer, St. Catherine Hospital will have
increased its space and ambulatory care
capacity by more than 50 percent.
Known for an aggressive
stance on battling cancer,
St. Catherine Hospital was the
first site in Indiana and the entire
Chicago region to offer CyberKnife
to patients with tumors that
could not be removed surgically
or otherwise treated effectively.
The robotic radiosurgery system
remains a proven technology for
precision treatment of cancers of
the brain, spine, liver, lungs, pancreas and prostate.
Radiation is one of the many procedures that are now possible without a hospital stay. That makes the
merits of offering radiation therapy
and integrative medicine during an

outpatient visit in a comfortable, convenient location integral to a positive
care experience.
Being close to their care team, friends,
co-workers and loved ones is also important, Correa adds. Cancer treatment
can be lengthy, so patients need not
fret over long drives for treatment or
extended leaves from work.
"A lot can be said of receiving care in a
world-class facility where you're treated
like family," he says.
Community Care Network hematologist/oncologist Amer Sidani, MD, a specialist in cancer care who sees patients
at St. Catherine Hospital, says the expansion will allow for a better facility with
more privacy, comfort zones, patient
amenities and personalized treatment as
cancer patients go through their healing journeys.
"We also are developing a team of
staff trained and experienced in oncology," Sidani says. "It is important that
patients trust in the process and care
team, and we want to make sure we earn
that trust." ■

Oncologist Amer Sidani, MD, is part of the
cancer care team at St. Catherine Hospital.

SU MM E R 2 01 9

http://www.COMHS.org

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - CH

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