Last Updated on May 4, 2015 by cassnetwork
As of Monday, May 4, Logansport Memorial Hospital has acquired the Logansport Regional Cancer Center located at 1616 Smith Street in Logansport. The Logansport Regional Cancer Center has been providing comprehensive, community-based radiation therapy services to local patients utilizing state-of-the-art technology for the past 15 years, since 2000. It has been an advantageous option for those patients who face a regimen of cancer treatment because they have not had to leave the community to get the care they need.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, uses painless, high-energy x-rays directed toward cancerous tissue to help treat specific types of cancer. Sophisticated machines called linear accelerators are used to do this. In general, radiation therapy treatments are conducted five days per week over a period of two to nineweeks. Each session is administered by a specially-trained therapist. With treatment needed at such a high frequency, it’s easy to see why patients prefer (and appreciate) the option to stay within their own community and receive this care.
“We are very proud to be able to provide this opportunity for our patients and for our community,” commented David Ameen, President and CEO of Logansport Memorial Hospital. “We were approached by the Cancer Care Group who had been previously running the service because they knew they would have to close its doors, due to changing reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid not covering the high cost of providing such care. As the only healthcare provider serving Cass County, we felt compelled to offer this for our patients because we believe that it’s our responsibility to provide comprehensive, accessible healthcare for our community. Our Board of Trustees felt the same way, so we are looking forward to keeping this service here and helping our patients get what they need close to home.”
“Keeping the Logansport Regional Cancer Center here as a local part of healthcare is a tremendous convenience for our patients,” adds Dr. James Hall. “Radiation therapy is designed to give patients a small dose of treatment over a long period of time. This treatment schedule minimizes complications without compromising effectiveness. With the number of patients we see and treat not only from Logansport and Cass County, but also surrounding counties, this is a very beneficial service to offer. As a provider, I also appreciate being able to keep my patients close to home, because I can follow them throughout their journey and better coordinate their care with other providers who are part of their team. Everything – including diagnostic imaging, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy – can all be done here because LMH has providers and partnerships in place to offer it. Cancer is a team-treated disease and I am proud that we are equipped to treat it with the highest quality of care.”
Dr. John Marvel, Radiation Oncologist for the Logansport Regional Cancer Center, agrees. “It is so much easier for our patients to have the care they need close to home instead of having to drive 30 minutes or more to receive it. Radiation therapy can last anywhere from six to nine weeks for patients seeking a cure. That can result in anywhere from 30 – 44 daily treatments. In sick patients, it can be less, as some with pain may only need two to three weeks of treatment as part of their palliative care. But I am so glad that our hospital stepped up to provide this needed service in an ongoing way for patients by keeping it in the community.”
The Logansport Memorial Regional Cancer Center is open Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm. Services are provided with a referral only. You may talk with Mike Etter, Director of Ancillary Services about any questions you have by calling (574) 753-1400, or visit our website to learn more –www.logansportmemorial.org.
SOURCE: News release from Logansport Memorial Hospital