Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital cut the ribbon today to the newest and most innovative infusion and multi-disciplinary care center the Valley has to offer. Receiving world-class, compassionate care close to home remains a priority for Mercy Health – Youngstown and today’s grand opening celebration reinforces that commitment.
The new Infusion Center and Multi-Disciplinary Care Center located at the St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital campus employs the latest technologies in an environment that focuses on coordination of care for the patient and family.
The Infusion Center will offer chemotherapy and oncology infusions with a full-service, dedicated infusion pharmacy. This allows patients to get their medications and treatments quicker rather than waiting for medications to be mixed elsewhere within the hospital. Additionally, a fast-track lab for blood work, injections and short-duration therapies will also create efficiencies for patients needing minimal therapy or lab work, allowing them to get their treatments and back home, sooner.
“Having care delivered at the right place and at the right time is truly a priority in the way we deliver health care” said Don Koenig, Chief Operating Officer and President of St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. “Having a dedicated lab and pharmacy that can quickly administer medications or assess the current status of a patient, allows us to respond to our patients needs much more efficiently.”
The addition of a new, state-of-the-art Multi-Disciplinary Care Center will also provide dedicated clinical space for palliative medicine as well as a hepatobiliary and a lung nodule center – two services that are first to be offered in the Valley.
“We are experiencing an uptick in liver and pancreatic disease in the Valley” said Dr. Thomas Chirichella, Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgeon at Mercy Health – Youngstown. “Having resources, surgical technologies and expertise right here at home, allows us to serve our community in ways we have never been able to before” he said.
Additionally, the Center will be home to the Valley’s first Lung Nodule Clinic. Lung nodules are typically benign masses that can result from an infection. However, a small percentage of these nodules are actually early lung cancers, that require immediate action. Nearly 1.5 Million Americans are diagnosed with lung nodules each year. The lung nodule clinic at Mercy Health also partners with the hospitals lung screening program which is a designated Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence that screens hundreds of patients each year through 6 sites across the Valley.
“Having a dedicated center where expert pulmonology care is accessed, will further enhance the comprehensive nature of this new Center”, said Vanessa Chamberlain, Lung Nodule Navigator at Mercy Health. “We have many patients that have no other pulmonology issues, therefore they end up waiting weeks to months to see a pulmonologist – now they can be seen within days, resulting in earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
Both the Infusion Center and Multi-Disciplinary Care Center will officially welcome its first patients on Monday, April 9. Mercy Health – Youngstown is committed to building a healthier Mahoning Valley and remaining true to our Mission of extending our healing ministry.