By John Burton
RED BANK – When cancer strikes, treatment is about a lot more than just attacking the disease.
That broader focus is the essence of the soon to be open newly renovated and redefined oncology center at Riverview Medical Center to assist patients as well as their families through difficult times.
And the best part, it’s all under one roof for convenience and peace of mind, hospital staff stress.
As part of Meridian Health System’s $128 million Monmouth and Ocean counties, system-wide expansion of its oncology services, called Building Hope, Riverview Medical Center is spending more than $30 million creating a totally renovated 46,250 square-foot space at its existing Jane H. and John Marshall Booker Cancer Center and will incorporate increasingly new, cutting edge technology for the treatment of cancer.
In addition, the facility will be offering services in nutrition, healthy living and other areas.
This system-wide project will “continue to allow Meridian to bring the highest quality of cancer care to multiple access points in our communities,” said Riverview President Tim Hogan.
BTK Architects, Philadelphia, which designed the project, spent a great deal of attention redesigning the actual facility to offer healing and comprehensive environments.
“We need to constantly grow to keep up and give our patients their best chances,” said Dr. Adnan Danish, chairman of radiation oncology at Riverview.
Danish, who is also the medical director of the medical center’s CyberKnife radiation treatment and robotically-assisted surgery for tumors, has been with Riverview since 2006. He described this expansion as a “major step forward” for the medical system and one he’s excited about for its potential for the already hundreds of patients who are treated annually at the cancer center.
“I’ve been waiting for years,” for this upgrade, he said. Included in the plans for the center is the installation of two TrueBeam linear accelerators. Riverview already has one for radiation therapy treatment, which Danish said is some of the most advanced and sought after developments in the field. Riverview is the only facility in the area to have the technology.
The cancer center will have available to patients and families in and out-patient treatments; nurse/navigators who will help guide them through the treatment process by coordinating their schedules of doctor and other appointments and connecting other services; multi-disciplinary oncology suite for evaluation by team physicians in one visit; infusion/chemotherapy facilities; and conference and family supportive care resources.
Even the planned architectural revamping for the facility is done with the patients in mind, providing calming designs, including elongated windows in the lobby area, allowing for full view of the Navesink River, Danish pointed out. All of which is intended to, “basically offer better service to our patients,” and all in one location, he said.
“We really try to emphasize the patient’s whole experience,” serving all the needs involved in the treatment, Hogan said. “We’re always looking for what brings out the most benefit for the patients in the communities we serve.”
“We’re expanding because the community needs it,” Danish added.
Earlier diagnosis results in more effective treatment. Therefore, quality of longer term life and life beyond treatment is critical, Danish added.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is currently constructing its latest satellite outpatient facility, planned to be roughly 120,000 square feet on neighboring Middletown’s Red Hill Road. Meridian’s plans have been in the works for quite some time and will offer more extensive services, Danish said, stressing, “This isn’t their (Sloan Kettering’s) community.”
“Patients have choices,” Hogan responded. However, “We feel we have an incredibly strong program here that continues to advance as advancements are made in cancer treatment,” coupled with a dedicated staff, he continued.
“All of us who serve here, work here, live here,” Danish said. “We’re here for the community.”
