New level of cancer care available for northern Michigan residents
The ribbon under the covered entrance to the Cowell Family Cancer Center sliced between a big pair of scissors Wednesday, April 13, inaugurating a new level of cancer care for the residents of northern Michigan.
Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness said the gleaming $45 million state-of-the-art building was made possible by the generosity of 2,500 donors who contributed $18.5 million to the project. Those donations included a $5 million lead gift from Traverse City resident and businessman Casey Cowell.
Cowell said characterized the structure and the patient care inside as a “great thing.”
“This is a fantastic building and in my experience so far whenever you have the opportunity to go inside and experience it, it is fantastic culture inside,” he said. “It is as focused on keeping our population healthy as it is on curing the people who walk through the door.”
The structure consolidates cancer care services from 10 different locations under one roof, making it much easier for patients to navigate their care. At 100,000 square feet, the building is the largest free standing cancer center in Michigan.
The cancer center is part of the Munson Healthcare Regional Cancer Network that includes other Munson Healthcare system hospitals. The network promotes care coordination and convenient access for infusion services, and medical oncology consultations and follow-up close to the patient’s home. Munson Medical Center Medical Director for Cancer Services David Gordon, M.D., said cancer care for the region is being transformed and patients now will experience better coordination of care.
“This actually started 11 years ago with four physicians talking about how we could deliver better care,” he said. “One of the things we’ve done is establish multidisciplinary clinics. Prior to the cancer center you’d have to go to three or four different offices over four to eight weeks. Now you can go in one day. At the end of that time you have a recommendation about what the problem is and what you want to do about it.”
Dr. Gordon said the center also has established a “one call” process that means a patient need only call one number to talk with someone and learn the next step in their care. “When they make that call they will get an answer,” he said.
The Cancer Center contains advanced diagnostic technologies including two new replacement linear accelerators, stereotactic radio surgery, endoscopic ultrasound for diagnosing GI cancers, and endobronchial ultrasound for lung cancer. A health and wellness suite also provides a spa-like environment that includes yoga, massage, acupuncture, and other supportive care including nutrition, exercise, support groups, social work and palliative consults.
Community lectures at the cancer center are being planned to cover a range of topics including the arts, cooking, cancer screening, gardening, approaches to cancer prevention and treatment, and much more. There will be health and wellness resources available to peruse. Recent studies support the fact that healthy lifestyle behaviors can impact prevention of cancer and reduction in the risk of cancer recurring. The Cowell Family Cancer Center is partnering with county transportation departments to provide transportation to radiation therapy at no cost to the patient.
Cowell praised the residents of the area for their support for the facility.
“We just hope this place is tremendous for the community,” he said. “May everyone who walks through these doors be healed and nurtured.” For more information on cancer services at Munson Healthcare, go to munsonhealthcare.org/cancer.
Casey Cowell cuts the ribbon to the Cowell Family Cancer Center.