MINDEMOYA—The Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) team is excited to announce the reopening of the new Mindemoya site chemotherapy program as of February 5. MHC has been busy renovating and expanding the chemotherapy suite to ensure that it meets the accreditation standards for the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) and the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). The chemotherapy suite had been closed for approximately two years while renovations took place at the MHC.
“It has been a journey, renovating an aging building during a pandemic, while ensuring it meets the highest standards for chemotherapy mixing and administration; we were met with many delays and challenges,” stated Paula Fields, president and chief executive officer of MHC. “I am grateful for the MHC senior team and corporate and clinical teams who persisted to ensure that this service will once again be offered locally. They truly live by our values of respect, passion and truth.”
The Mindemoya site chemotherapy program is a satellite program of the Shirley and Jim Fielding Northeast Cancer Centre. Treatments are provided by local skilled and certified nurses with oversight by pharmacists and oncologists. MHC is planning a staggered approach to returning patients to local treatments under the oversight of the cancer centre with hopes to eventually be at full capacity. It is going to start with having the chemotherapy suite open a couple of days per week, then four days.
The renovation-expansion included increasing the footprint of the suite with an additional treatment chair, with the hope to increase the number of treatments provided locally in the future. “We would like to thank the community for their patience during the renovation and look forward to welcoming our community members back to receiving treatments closer to home,” the MHC release stated.
Denis McGregor, MHC board chair stated, “On behalf of the MHC board of directors, it is a great pleasure to know that we have now completed the final piece of the massive Mindemoya site renovation project and can announce the reopening of the chemotherapy suite! This would not have been possible without the extreme generosity of the community during our fundraising efforts, and all the people involved during the construction phases, retraining of staff, and the entire MHC team. We thank all those affected during the closure for their patience and understanding, as we strive to improve the lives of all we serve, now and into the future.”
