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CMH Takes Major Step in Cancer Care |
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Caldwell Memorial Hospital has taken steps to further strengthen medical services to cancer patients in Caldwell County and the region. This year, the cancer program of Caldwell Memorial Hospital was reapproved with Commendation as a Community Hospital Cancer Program by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. This came after years of extensive preparation by physicians and staff of the cancer care program to meet the standards required.
The one major element in cancer treatment missing in our service line is radiation oncology delivered by a linear accelerator (a high-powered radiation device used to treat malignant tumors). Caldwell Memorial administrators have worked with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to develop an affiliation that would bring radiation therapies and other benefits to Caldwell County. This new expanded level of cancer care will be delivered in Caldwell County on the campus of Caldwell Memorial Hospital.
The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University (CCCWFU) is among only 1% of U.S. cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as comprehensive, indicating excellence in research, patient care and education. It is, in fact, one of only 36 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States so recognized by the NCI.
Recently, construction began on the CMH campus of the building addition that will house the linear accelerator. The new radiation oncology service program is due to open in 2006. The Caldwell Memorial affiliation with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University makes this service possible.
This affiliation will also make national clinical trials available to cancer patients from Caldwell County who are treated at Caldwell Memorial Hospital. As an affiliate of the CCCWFU, Caldwell Memorial Hospital will be a part of the research base for the Community Clinical Oncology Programs (CCOPs) funded by the National Cancer Institute. The overall objective of the CCCWFU CCOP Research Base is to provide hospital affiliates like Caldwell Memorial with cancer prevention/control and treatment studies that are not available through other NCI-approved groups.
"This commitment to deliver cancer services and provide access to the latest clinical trials in the communities where patients reside is viewed as an important benefit to our patient population," says Laura Easton, Chief Operating Office at CMH.
David Horn, Vice President for Business Development at CMH reports, "We are proud of our affiliation with one of the nation's top comprehensive cancer centers. You will see evidence of that pride with the placement of signage on our hospital that proclaims: "William E. Stevens, Jr. Cancer Care Center affiliated with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center.""
This kind of medical collaboration has become an important strategy for accessing specialty medical services in smaller population centers like Caldwell County. By affiliating with an organization that has expertise in specialty care delivery, the local patients can have the convenience of care close to home and family support.
Other collaborations in medical services such as a fixed cardiac catheterization unit and lithotripsy for kidney stone patients.
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