Browsing ‘Technology’
Of Mission and Trials
Cancer trials at St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Center
“We will have fulfilled our promise when every PeaceHealth patient receives safe, evidence-based, compassionate care: every time, every touch.” PeaceHealth Vision Statement 2012
Evidence-based.
The phrase forms an essential part of St. Joseph Hospital’s Mission and Promise, following directly and appropriately from “safe.” Clinical trials provide evidence essential to providing the best possible treatments. Dr. Michael A Taylor, from St. Joseph’s Hospital Cancer Care Center Radiation Oncologist, emphasizes this point in his video. “This is the main way we’re going to going advance cancer care for our patients.”
With some trials come issues for a patient to consider, carefully, in conversations with a doctor; they also offer access to the newest medications and treatments, presenting possibilities for better outcomes than achieved by more conventional approaches. In every case, trial participants help refine the science that improves and extends our lives.
The same can be said for the facilities that volunteer to participate in studies, Qualifying for these is an enormously time consuming and labor-intensive process. In the dynamic field of radiation oncology, St. Joseph’s is the only Washington hospital west of the mountains and north of Seattle to pass the rigorous Quality Assurance Review administered by the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Taylor identifies the implications of this registration: “We’re able to enter patients in trials because we’ve received a stamp of approval from a very demanding body. The fact that we’re willing to accept the challenges (of achieving accreditation) demonstrates our commitment,” also the sophistication of St. Joseph’s technology and skilled staff. “And none of the staff hours required for the process are paid for by any agency but the Hospital, and by donations to the Hospital Foundation.”
CEO Briefing on Interventional Radiology & Radiation Oncology in Bellingham
Thursday, November 12, Mt. Baker Theatre – Circle of Care members and their guests were given a look behind the scenes at some of the hospital programs supported by the Hospital Foundation. Nancy Steiger, Regional CEO and CMO, pointed out that we have many reasons to be proud of our award-winning Hospital, and just as many reasons to donate to the Hospital Foundation. The contributions made by guest speakers Dag Jensen, MD (Northwest Radiologists) and Dr. William Hall (Cancer Center) illustrated this statement.
Dr. Ian Thompson, On What Sets Our Cancer Center Apart
Ian L. Thompson, MD, Radiation Oncologist, describes the uniqueness of the St. Joseph Cancer Center.