Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital to Open Oct. 5

For immediate release: Sept. 16, 2015

NORTHAMPTON – Today, more than 150 donors, doctors, health care administrators, and oncology staff attended a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony at the new Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

The ceremonial event marks the end of construction of a 16,400 square-foot facility of which 3,400 sq. ft is new space and 13,000 sq. ft is renovated existing space.

Coincidentally, officials at Cooley Dickinson were notified earlier today that the Mass. Department of Public Health review is complete and the facility has been approved. Patient care begins in the new center Monday, Oct. 5, 2015.

“This is a tremendous day for Cooley Dickinson, Mass General, and for everyone who’s worked so hard to make the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital a reality,” said Joanne Marqusee, president and chief executive officer of Cooley Dickinson Health Care.

“We are committed to combining the personal care of a community hospital with access to world-renowned medical experts. That is the promise of the affiliation and the promise of the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.”

For Patients, Coordinated Care, Access to World-Class Experts

Sean Mullally, MD, medical director, Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a Mass General Cancer Center physician, said that the majority of cancer care can be provided at a community hospital.

“In some cases, it does make sense for people to go to the Mass General Cancer Center. In those instances, we are making sure that patients get the right treatment in the right place. And if people need to go to Boston, we make it more convenient for the patient to get there; we coordinate their care with doctors at Mass General who sub-specialize in cancer.”

Mullally said a patient who needs chemotherapy will have access to the same treatment regimens, protocols, and safety as the Mass General Cancer Center.

“They can get their chemotherapy here knowing we are following the same clinical guidelines as the Mass General Cancer Center. At Cooley Dickinson, patients are closer to home, surrounded by family and friends, and in more comfortable environment.”

New Facility Features: More Light, Space; Comfort; Privacy

After years of business plans, architectural drawings, and input from patients and community members, the new Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson was designed around the needs of patients and their care team.

“There has been tremendous input from our patients,” Mullally added, noting their input – coupled with engineering and facility design best practices – has shaped how care is delivered in the center.

The new facility quadruples the footprint where patients had been receiving care in the oncology medical practice.

Highlights include:
• an 18-chair infusion bay for patients receiving chemotherapy with comfortable chairs where some patients can receive treatment for up to 8 hours; personal TVs and Wi-Fi, as well as room for a caregiver. These spaces also offer views of a bucolic mural on a wall immediately outside of the center, and Childs Park in the distance.
• 4 infusion rooms are available for those who require more privacy.
• 2 large nurses’ stations for patient monitoring
• 10 exam rooms
• 1 multidisciplinary consultation room for use by different members of a patient’s care team, such as physicians, surgeons, nutritionists, social workers
• 1 video conferencing room for tele-consultations with Mass General Cancer Center physicians
• Dedicated reception area with beverage station
• Dedicated check-out area (facilitates private conversations for follow-up care)
• Dedicated entrance immediately inside the North Building lobby
• Access to convenient parking and valet parking is available at the North Building Entrance

Oncology/Radiation Oncology Physician Team

Taking care of patients in the new center will be medical oncologists Lindsay Rockwell, MD; Barrett Newsome, DO; Sean Mullally, MD; Deborah Smith, MD; and radiation oncologists Linda Bornstein, MD, and Jennifer Hyder, MD. Depending on each patient’s unique circumstances, physicians coordinate care with their colleagues at the Mass General Cancer Center in Boston. Smith will begin seeing patients at Cooley Dickinson in November.

Vitkauskas Crowe Radiation Oncology Suite

Patients requiring radiation oncology treatments have access to the suite, located below the new Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. The linear accelerator radiation oncology equipment is the same model that is used the Mass General Cancer Center in Boston. Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays or particles to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapists follow the same safety and treatment protocols as the Mass General Cancer Center.

Expanded Pharmacy: Foundation of new Cancer Center

Last year, Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s pharmacy was renovated and expanded as one of the first steps of the construction of the new Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson. The pharmacy is across the hall from the new center. Clinical oncology pharmacists offer patients the same treatment regimens, protocols, and safety for chemotherapy as the Mass General Cancer Center in Boston.

Other improvements include an expanded and state-of-the-art medication compounding area for Cooley Dickinson Hospital as well as the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Community Support: Update on Cancer Center’s Fund-raising Campaign

According to JoAnne Finck, fund-raising campaign chairperson, more than $3 million has been raised toward the cancer center. Now that the center is about to open, Finck encouraged others to be part of this meaningful project.

“There are still opportunities for community members to contribute to the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson campaign. People can name a space or make a one-time gift. Every gift supports the work of our talented and committed physicians and staff, or underwrites an important initiative of the new center.” She adds that all funds donated locally stay locally. To make a gift, visit https://givecdhc.partners.org/donate

Of one of the larger contributions to the campaign, Finck acknowledges a $500,000 gift from the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Auxiliary. “The Auxiliary, comprised of about 300 members, is committed to providing quality health care for our community through fundraising and advocacy.”

Ribbon-cutting/Opening Ceremony Speakers

Speakers included Maqusee, Finck, Mullally, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, and David Ryan, MD, clinical director, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and chief, division of hematology/oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Following their remarks, officials cut the ribbon to one of the entrances of the new center. In addition to the viewing the ribbon-cutting event, attendees toured the new Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and the radiation oncology suite.