Hospital rearms for cancer fight
Cornwall center is state of the art
By JIM GORDON
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital has taken
a key step to improving care for cancer patients in
the Hudson Valley with the groundbreaking last month
of a 20,000-square-foot, $17 million cancer care facility.
About 100 elected officials, hospital leaders and community
members turned up May 30 for the ceremonial groundbreaking
in Cornwall. When it opens in the fall of 2009, the
facility will be the first in the Hudson Valley to
offer “Tomotherapy” a new radiation treatment technology
billed as enabling clinicians to target tumors with
unsurpassed precision. This minimizes damage to healthy
tissue, reduces the side effects often caused by radiation
therapy and may produce better patient outcomes.
SLCH President and CEO Allan E. Atzrott said that the
facility will be “a building of hope, comfort and inspiration”
that will offer comprehensive care in a facility expressly
designed for the needs of the patients and their families.
“A diagnosis of cancer affects not only the patient,
but the entire family,” said Atzrott. “Cancer treatment
usually requires many visits, and traveling for care
– sometimes on a daily basis. It is tiring and stressful.
Our new cancer center will ease the journey, enabling
patients to receive leading-edge care, comfort and
support right here in our community.”
In addition to advanced radiation treatments, the center
will feature infusion/chemotherapy services, community
and patient education conference suites, physicians’
offices and retail space to serve the special needs
of oncology patients.
A panel of cancer survivors has provided input on the
project since its inception.
“Through strong partnerships, the support of our community,
the dedication of our medical staff and the hard work
of many who share our vision, we’re able to embark
on this important initiative,” said Atzrott
The new facility will have expertise in Tomotherapy
right from the onset. Michael F. Wesson, a board-certified
radiation oncologist, and a principal with Advanced
Radiation Oncology Services, is a leader in Tomotherapy.
Wesson was chief resident at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Memorial Cancer Center in New York City, and has served
as an attending staff physician at Mount Sinai Medical
Center.
“SLCH’s vision for this Cancer Center is progressive
and patient centered,” said Wesson. “We are ensuring
that we have not only the technology to treat cancer
effectively, but the skilled physicians, nurses and
support staff to provide unparalleled clinical care
in a supportive environment.”
The architect for the facility is Clark Patterson Associates
of Newburgh. Hunter Roberts Construction Group of New
York City will serve as general contractor, using union
labor and local subcontractors.
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