Johnson Memorial Hospital Introduces New Infusion Services in Enfield

Johnson Memorial Hospital (JMH) has announced the expansion of services on its Enfield campus with the opening of a new infusion center, bringing services closer to home for those living in the greater Enfield area.

The Karen Davis Krzynowek Infusion Center (KDKIC) will serve those in need of infusion therapies, such as chemotherapy, biotherapy, and other intravenous therapies.

The KDKIC is located on JMH’s Enfield campus, on Route 190, at 142 Hazard Avenue.  JMH is part of Johnson Memorial Medical Center (JMMC). 

“By opening this Center, patients living in the communities we serve will have better access to much-needed healthcare services,” said David R. Morgan, JMMC’s president and CEO. “Our expansion in Enfield is based entirely on community need. People shouldn’t have to travel far from home for health care. Infusion therapies often take hours away from a patient’s day, which is why it is so important that time is not wasted on travel. We are committed to expanding services for those living and working in the greater Enfield area, and we are so pleased this project is coming to fruition.”

Saint Francis Care will relocate its local infusion services, currently based at 7 Elm Street, Enfield, to the Johnson Memorial Cancer Center, creating the only hospital-based infusion center in Enfield. Hospital-based centers operate under stringent regulations, and require specific personnel certifications and involvement of clinical specialists.  Medical directorship of the Johnson Memorial Cancer Program is provided by Saint Francis Care, and the KDKIC is staffed by physicians from Saint Francis Medical Group’s hematology-oncology practice. These physicians provide onsite clinical management and are available for consultation services, examinations and infusion therapy oversight. The KDKIC also has a laboratory onsite for infusion patients as well as community members needing blood draws.

“We are excited to be able to offer the residents of Enfield and surrounding areas the only hospital-based infusion center,” said Jonathan Sporn, MD, Director of the Infusion Center and Section Chief, Hematology and Oncology at Saint Francis.  “As a hospital-based facility, the Karen Davis Krzynowek InfusionCenter will be staffed by specially trained physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners.  As such, it brings world-class care right here to our local community,” added Dr. Sporn.

Construction of the KDKIC’s 4,000 square-foot facility was made possible by the S. Prestley and Helen D. Blake Challenge Grant. Contributions were matched dollar for dollar up to the total amount of the grant.

“It has been a pleasure to support the new infusion center because this project immediately benefits the community,” said S. Prestley Blake. “My wife and I are particularly excited that this gift initiated the hospital’s first major fundraising campaign in several years.”

Northeast Regional Radiation Oncology Network (NRRON) awarded a grant to JMH for the KDKIC, which provided funding for all furniture, fixtures and equipment. NRRON is a unique partnership of hospitals - JMH, Hartford Hospital,Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital – that provides comprehensive radiation therapy services in two locations, Enfield and Manchester. NRRON will soon increase the spectrum of services available in radiation therapy.

“The construction of this facility in the same building as Northeast Regional Radiation Oncology Network and the Johnson Memorial Cancer Center brings our multidimensional oncology programs together under one roof,” said Morgan.

Services include consultations and examinations, infusion therapy, radiation services, a laboratory draw station, and an American Cancer Society satellite office. JMH offers surgical services and physical therapy nearby.