RSF Outpatient Cancer Center Hosts Community Day Celebration on Nov. 12
November 13, 2010
CHARLESTON, SC – Roper St. Francis and Charleston Hematology Oncology Associates hosted a Community Day celebration, with a health fair and refreshments, to celebrate the opening of their new outpatient Cancer Center located on the campus of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital on Friday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
“Sixteen months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Roper St. Francis Cancer Center is a reality,” said David L. Dunlap, President and CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “We have assembled expert physicians, nurses, caregivers and state-of-the-art technology in a healing environment and all under one roof.”
The 76,000 square foot, 3-story stucco building features an architectural design in keeping with the pastel palette of existing buildings on the St. Francis Hospital campus and overlooks the Meditation Garden, which opened last spring, and its majestic live oak trees.
“From the start, our vision has been to create a central place where cancer patients will have access to both their medical treatments as well as services and programs that support their individual needs,” said David Ellison, MD, Medical Director for Roper Hospital Cancer Services.
The new center offers a comprehensive array of Roper Hospital outpatient cancer services, including radiation therapy and PET/CT. The Varian 21 ix linear accelerator features Rapid Arc and offers all the latest radiation therapies.
It also houses offices for Charleston Hematology Oncology Associates and its physicians including George Geils Sr., MD; David Ellison, MD; Elizabeth Christian, MD; George Geils Jr., MD; George Keogh, MD, James Orcutt, MD, and Gene Saylors, MD.
Amenities include The Healing Boutique, a specialty shop offering care and comfort products for cancer patients, The Café, which will serve light, healthy lunch and snack foods, conference facilities for cancer program functions, and space to host support groups for cancer patients and their families.
A Serenity Garden, located outside of the infusion treatment area, was sponsored by the Council of Garden Clubs of Greater Charleston as part of its “Plant It Pink” initiative, a partnership between National Garden Clubs and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The program encourages planting of gardens in areas at cancer centers and other locations to raise awareness of the fight against breast cancer. The Garden at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center includes an array of pink and white flowers including daffodils, Natchez crape myrtles, double pink knockout roses, yuletide camellias and more.
The planning, design and construction team for the new Cancer Center were LTC Associates, Inc., Architects; Trident Construction Company, general contractor, and Program Management Resources, Inc., construction program management.
Cancer patients at Roper St. Francis Healthcare benefit from a comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care team, which includes Roper St. Francis physicians ranging from oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, dermatologists and pulmonologists, who work closely with certified oncology nurses, technologists, cancer care navigators, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, pastoral care and others. Programs and services include education, prevention, early detection through screenings and state-of-the-art technology for diagnosis and treatment, as well as a wide range of cancer-related support services.
Roper St. Francis is also an affiliate of Charlotte-based Carolina Healthcare System’s newly-announced Levine Cancer Center, which will serve as a catalyst for sharing prevention strategies and best practices across its network. In addition, cancer patients treated at network facilities will benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration and improved access to the latest clinical research protocols.
The Roper St. Francis Healthcare Mission:
Healing All People with Compassion, Faith and Excellence
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the South Carolina Lowcountry’s only private, not-for-profit health care system. The 657-bed system consists of 90 facilities and services in seven counties. Member hospitals include Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and Roper Rehabilitation Hospital. Mount Pleasant Hospital opens in November 2010. Plans to build a hospital in Berkeley County are in progress. Roper St. Francis Physician Partners is a comprehensive network of more than 170 physicians that covers a complete range of primary care and 20 subspecialties.
With more than 4,800 employees, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is Charleston’s largest non-governmental, private employer. Its medical staff includes nearly 800 physicians representing every medical specialty. Ranked #46 among the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks in the nation, Roper St. Francis Healthcare recently earned 71 National Awards recognizing high levels of patient, physician and employee satisfaction. In 2009, the organization contributed more than 58,015 hours of staff time and $29.6 million to benefit the community, serving nearly 175,000 community residents.
