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A tight-knit department with wide-ranging servicesTucked into a convenient spot, just beyond the entrance to the emergency room, the Medical Center’s chemotherapy department can be easy to miss. Its friendly staff, working in warm surroundings, create the feel of a close family and the tight knit group of nurses, doctors and patients always seem as though they’re sharing a private joke. It may be because many of the folks who enter the unit are those who need care, but most people in the community have no idea of the vast array of treatment options or level of expertise available in the unit. “We are equipped to provide a wide variety of state-of-the-art therapies here,” said Daniel Frenning, M.D., oncologist with the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute in Minneapolis, who sees patients every week at the medical center. “Some of the treatments we provide here are normally available only at large, metropolitan health care centers.” Cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease, malignant lymphomas, as well as breast, lung, colon, pancreatic and esophageal cancer, and other equally as devastating types can be effectively treated at the medical center. In 2004, more than 2,881 treatments, ranging from shots to transfusions and chemotherapies were administered in the chemotherapy department. Patients are also made aware of clinical trials for new treatments and, although they have to be enrolled at larger medical facilities, often may participate in the trial directly from New Ulm. “A lot of communities would love to have our capabilities, our level of expertise – many even larger than New Ulm,” Frenning said. “Our chemotherapy capabilities here are directly tied to the medical center’s connection with Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Abbot Northwestern Hospital, which includes the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute. Virginia Piper is known nationally for its work in the treatment of all kinds of cancer. These resources provide strong support for New Ulm.” In addition to the expertise and support that chemotherapy patients receive from Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, a second physician, Dr. Chen Huang, provides another area of expertise. Huang, who joined the medical center staff in May and is board certified as an internist, has been training with Dr. Frenning. Prior to coming to New Ulm, she completed an oncology fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. In the future, she plans to become board certified in oncology as well. “There’s a huge shortage of oncologists in the nation,” Frenning said. “Every year when the new doctors complete their training, they have many, many options of where go because there are so many more positions than there are oncologists. I see Dr. Huang’s work in oncology as a real advantage for the people of New Ulm.” Frenning noted that another big advantage for cancer patients receiving treatment in New Ulm is the actual department, recently expanded and renovated as part of the medical center’s $9.8 million construction project. With the expansion, three treatment areas were increased to five and two new exam rooms, which can double as private treatment rooms, were added. “With the move, there is a much more space for patients undergoing therapy,” said Frenning, who began seeing patients in New Ulm in 2000. “It’s a nice, bright space with windows – patients and their families were involved in the design of the area. Patients made it clear that they wanted to have an open space where they could communicate with each other rather then having enclosed rooms or cubicles.” Certainly just as important as physicians or facilities to the quality of care provided in the chemotherapy unit are dedicated nurses. “We have a really excellent nursing staff that are devoted to oncology and have tremendous expertise,” Frenning said. “They all do a great job, care deeply for their patients and really enjoy what they are doing.” Patients needing radiation treatments for their cancer are referred to larger hospitals. In addition, some patients with certain types of cancer or who are candidates for stem cell transplantation are referred to tertiary care facilities due to the complexities and side effects of the treatments. “We can’t treat every cancer patient here in New Ulm. We aren’t always able to provide all of the newest treatments and some patients are better cared for elsewhere.” Frenning said. “But if I come across something very unusual or rare, for which there might be some new treatment elsewhere, I don’t hesitate for a minute to get on the phone and talk to specialists and colleagues at other facilities to find out more about it -- and I do it quite regularly.” Frenning added that if people understand the wide range of services in New Ulm, they would be more prone to stay local. “I hear about people who go elsewhere for their care and then they learn about the options available at the medical center. The frequent travel to and from treatment puts a huge strain on a cancer patient and their family. They realize too late they could have gotten their treatment right here at home. “I see this partnership between the New Ulm Medical Center and Virginia Piper Cancer Institute and Abbott Northwestern Hospital as improving the quality of care for cancer patients in the area. They can continue to get the most current cancer treatment right here, close to home.” |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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