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By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

VERNON TOWNSHIP — Erin Fucci knows first-hand that Meadville Medical Center’s new Oncology Wellness Institute will take patients by surprise.

“Expect a great time — which sounds silly when you’re having chemotherapy,” the 50-year-old Meadville resident said of the new $12 million facility in Vernon Township that opened for patients Tuesday. “This whole place is wonderful.”

Fucci was one of about a dozen cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the spacious chemotherapy treatment area that overlooks a wooded area.

“It’s tremendous,” said Fucci, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2006. “The setting is unbelievable. You’re surrounded by trees and green.”

Isolino Silva, 57, of Meadville, a colon cancer patient taking chemotherapy, enjoys the new setting as well.

“It’s a good place to come,” he said. “It’s amazing. There are nice people (on staff). They’ll do anything for you.”

The Oncology Wellness Institute offers a whole-person approach to cancer treatment in one location.

Meadville Medical Center’s previous oncology treatment center at its Liberty Street building didn’t offer radiation therapy. Those patients either had to go to the Regional Cancer Center’s facility on Park Avenue or to an out-of-town hospital.

In addition to offering chemotherapy and state-of-the-art radiation therapy, the new Wellness Institute’s approach is to address other aspects of care, like nutrition and counseling for the patient and the family’s emotional needs, said Valerie Bond, a registered nurse who is director of the institute.

The whole idea is to reduce stress on the patient and his or her family.

“It’s been proven that by reducing the stress while you receive your treatments — be it chemotherapy or radiation therapy — you tend to have better outcomes with your treatment regimen,” said Bond.

The building has a number of features designed to reduce stress on patients.

One is a larger chemotherapy treatment area that allows family members to sit with patients during treatment.

There’s an abundance of art on the walls and patients will be encouraged to create their own works with the help of artist George Nowack.

Patients also can express themselves musically with a piano.

The lobby has an indoor waterfall designed to provide patients and families with a sense of tranquility and calmness when entering the building, as well as a peaceful setting for reflection and healing.

The main waiting area has a sofa and seating to make patients and families more comfortable. An outdoor area with gardens, walkways and access to walking trails will be completed in the coming weeks.

The Wellness Institute also serves as a learning center. It has a computerized medical library where patients and families can find the latest information on their particular form of cancer, according to Bond.

The center has private examination rooms and physician offices, and a staff of oncologist/hematologists, registered nurses certified in oncology and radiologists.

For Fucci, the new facility all adds up as promised.

“It’s a life-affirming experience,” she said of the Wellness Institute. “You don’t feel sick when you’re here — I don’t.”



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.



Why you should care

The opening of Meadville Medical Center’s new $12 million Oncology Wellness Institute provides local patients with more treatment choices and may help address a countywide health issue.

Before the institute’s opening, there was only one other option in Crawford County for getting radiation therapy.

In addition, there are some troubling statistics about cancer in the county. There are 140 breast cancer cases per 100,000 women here compared to 129 per 100,000 nationwide. In addition, stage four cancer is reported on first diagnosis in 12.5 cases nationwide, but that figure rises to 18 percent in Crawford County. Stage four is when the cancer has spread to another organ.

And finally, by integrating many facets of care — such as nutrition, counseling and support for the patient’s family, with cutting edge technology, the institute operates under the most-up-to-date model for treatment.