Winchester Hospital's Cancer Center Moves Closer to Completion

It's not built yet, there's still probably another year before that happens, but took another step closer to building its state-of-the art cancer center.

The Hospital had a "topping-off" ceremony recently at its 620 Washington Street location where it's building a brand new cancer center. The ceremony is for placing the final beam in place. This Norwegian iron worker's ceremony has an evergreen tree placed on top of that final beam to represent successful construction and that no one was seriously injured or killed.

"This is very exciting," said Chitra King, MD, chief of Winchester Hospital's Hematology-Oncology Department. "It's more exciting now to be at the topping-off. We can start to buckle down and know this project is close to completion."

The new center is on pace to be completed by the summer of 2011.

"This is an opportunity to treat patients in a great environment," said Kathy Shuler, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. "It will put three centers and consolidate our clinics at one location."

"This is a sign of one portion of the project coming to an end," said vice president of facilities and real estate services, Robby Robertson. "This was a vision that was developed four or five years ago. It shows that we're closer to opening the center and to fulfill the needs of our patients."

According to the hospital, on top of centralizing the hospital's cancer care in one place, the site will also have a coordinated team-approach including radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, nurses and support staff; advanced radiation therapy treatment; on-site chemotherapy; holistic treatment, integrative therapies including massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, stress-reduction and Reiki; comforting, healing environment for every patient's cancer care journey

"This moment means a lot," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Smith. "When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they're treated with a chronic disease. Cancer is something that extends over time and is a continued hardship for families and patients. This center will be a supportive environment, close to home, allowing our cancer patients to have their families around. That's what we envision for our patients that live in 18 or so different towns."