After initially stating the chemotherapy program at Stanton Territorial Hospital would return in February officials now say there is no timetable to resume.
The cause in delay is due to the amount of time needed to train staff with up-to-date methods and procedures as well as the need for new equipment to accommodate cancer patients.
SA国际影视传媒淲e're a small program, to choose to continue to deliver chemo while undergoing a large amount of training would not have supported safe patient care,SA国际影视传媒� said Dr. Shireen Mansouri, a clinician involved with StantonSA国际影视传媒檚 chemotherapy services.
Stanton Territorial Hospital announced there will be no timetable for return of its chemotherapy service. The service has been suspended since December 8, 2017.
Patients affected by the suspension were notified about the decision between Dec.8 SA国际影视传媒� Dec. 12 where a total of 49 round trips have been taken using the GNWT medical travel service which flies them from Yellowknife to Edmonton for treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute.
Currently, two registered nurses have completed an online training program and after education by a cancer care coordinator will enter SA国际影视传媒渂uddy shiftsSA国际影视传媒� with other nurses at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.
Two more RNs have been selected to begin the chemotherapy training and will be used as back-fill employees to the nurses already in the midst of training.
As well, physicians at Stanton hospital are travelling to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre at the University of Calgary as well as the Cross Cancer Institute where they are going through a two-week on-site training program which will familiarize themselves with policies and procedures used by Cancer Control Alberta.
Mansouri has undergone the training at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and said although the suspension is unfortunate there is a greater outcome that awaits.
SA国际影视传媒淭he hardest part in all of this is knowing our patients have to travel to the get care they needSA国际影视传媒� said Mansouri. SA国际影视传媒淲hat is rewarding (as staff) in all of this is seeing the opportunity to have an incredible program up at Stanton Territorial Hospital.SA国际影视传媒�
Other issues which need to be resolved before services can resume at Stanton hospital is the purchasing of pumps which are essential in providing patients the proper drug dosage. Although executive director of clinical integration Kim Riles said there is nothing wrong with the pumps currently used for the Yellowknife hospital's chemo treatment, these upgrades are necessary to keep the standard set by CCA.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen medical technology progresses which is inevitable we will move with them,SA国际影视传媒� said Riles. SA国际影视传媒淭hat will reduce the need to reinvent the wheel and we will leverage off of (Cancer Control Alberta).SA国际影视传媒�
Riles explained the cost of the pumps are yet to be determined and reiterated the upgrades to pumps, which will be paired with many minor equipment upgrades make up a small portion of the reason NTHSSA Chief Executive Officer, Sue Cullen and CCA Chief Operating Officer George Andrews decided to suspend chemotherapy services.
Initially many patients found the closure of chemotherapy services inconvenient and complained of a lack of communication in staff / patient relationships. Mansouri addressed the complaint in a phone interview on Monday explaining how tough it is for nurses and clinicians to communicate such a complex issue.
SA国际影视传媒淔or patients the only word they hear is cancer,SA国际影视传媒� said Mansouri. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of other words are said but the only one you hear is cancer.SA国际影视传媒�
Both Mansouri and Riles agreed the development of better policies and patient education are also essential in helping the hospital provide better patient care.
