Nov13

Hays Medical Center Foundation announces Estate Gift

By Hays Medical - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays – The HaysMed Foundation has received a distribution from the William F. and Joanna L Aubel Charitable Remainder Unitrust. The gift of $217,122 will be added to the Bill and Joanna Aubel Endowment. The endowment is a permanent fund in which the earnings will benefit the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed.

“This is such a generous legacy from a couple who was very civic-minded, “said Dr. John Jeter, President and CEO of HaysMed. “Bill helped found the HaysMed Foundation in 1995 and both he and Joanna served on its Board of Directors. Their gift will have a significant impact on the Cancer Institute and their ability to continue to offer quality treatment for their patients.”

Ruth Heffel, Executive Director of the HaysMed Foundation agreed. “Bequests play a vital role in the Foundation’s ability to fund needed equipment and programs. We are extremely thankful to the Aubels and others who have included the Foundation in their estates.”

For more information on how to include HaysMed in an estate, contact the HaysMed Foundation at (785) 623-2350, email ruth.heffel@haysmed.com or visit the Foundation website at www.haysmedfoundation.org.

Mar18

VisionRT offers accuracy, safety at Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

By Hays Medical - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

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Lindsey Fox, Medical Physicist and Leo Elms, Medical Dosimetrist/Radiation Oncology Operations Manager
at HaysMed’s Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

HAYS, Kan. (March 18, 2015) Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute will soon be equipped with a new imaging system called VisionRT that offers pinpoint accuracy and enhanced patient safety during radiation treatments.

The institute, which is part of the Hays Medical Center family, is one of only two facilities between Shawnee, Ks., and Denver to offer this system.

VisionRT is just one benefit that goes hand-in-hand with the new SBRT linear accelerator that soon will be available at the institute. SBRT stands for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, which reduces the number of treatments for patients that qualify.

The new imaging system is just more icing on the cake. “VisionRT has three cameras that provide a three-dimensional map of the patient,” said Lindsey Fox, medical physicist. “We use this to track the patient’s position and movement during treatment. There are tight margins around the tumor, and with x-rays and CT images we can visualize the situation.

“Treatments will be done more quickly and we can monitor the patient’s movement at all times,” Fox continued. “We set the patient up in the exact position each time and if there is movement outside of tolerances, the radiation beam shuts off automatically.”

Leo Elms, medical dosimetrist/radiation oncology operations manager, noted the system is extremely accurate and reliable.

“It is so accurate,” he explained, “you can tell if someone blinks. It could be a slow, gradual movement or a sudden movement.

“The automatic shut-off ensures the proper area is treated,” he added. “We don’t want to treat areas that are not intended to be treated. With SBRT, everything is multiplied. So we take extra precautions to prevent radiation from going to areas where we don’t want it to go.”

The new system will benefit a majority of patients – whether traditional or more complex treatments are involved.

VisionRT also will allow Dreiling/Schmidt to offer what is called a “breath-hold treatment” that is important in caring for patients with certain breast cancers.

Elms and Fox noted this new equipment is just one more example of HaysMed going the extra mile for patients and their families.

“Dr. John Jeter, the board of directors and the administration want to provide high-quality services so that HaysMed can be the best community hospital,” Elms said. “We take that very seriously in radiation oncology and at Dreiling/Schmidt.

“We have the same equipment as major cancer centers, and go beyond what other centers do,” he continued. “We have decades of experience here, with a well-balanced, well-educated staff. It is a pleasure to work with these high-level professionals.”

Elms also noted that a person seeking treatment at Dreiling/Schmidt “is not just a number, not just another patient. The level of care here is probably not given at larger places because of sheer volume. We are fortunate here in western Kansas.”

Fox, who came to Dreiling/Schmidt late in 2013, said she was impressed early on with HaysMed. “One thing I noticed right away was the whole attitude here – not just in radiation oncology but throughout the hospital,” she said. “They are willing to make changes and stay current. This is a rapidly changing field with new technologies.

“HaysMed is open to this,” she continued. “No one is hesitant to make changes. We are staying in the forefront of technology, and are progressive and open-minded.”

Dreiling/Schmidt has been completely remodeled. It now features a more modern look, enhanced privacy and comfort, and new clinical treatment areas. Partial funding for the renovation came from contributions to the HaysMed Foundation capital campaign, “Beyond Medicine.”

Feb26

New Radiation Equipment Installed at HaysMed Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

By Hays Medical - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

Workers prepare to remove the 14-year-old linear accelerator at the HaysMed Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute to make way for new equipment that includes Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy capability.

It often is no surprise to cancer patients when they hear radiation treatments will take nine weeks.
However, in the near future some may be surprised to learn treatment will take only one week thanks to new equipment at the Hays Medical Center Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

The 14 year old equipment was removed in late January and the new linear accelerator installed this week.
The advantages to its Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) capability include pinpoint precision, reduced cost and fewer treatments.

“The decreased number of treatments is especially appealing to patients and families,” said Dr. Babu Prasad, radiation oncologist. “Patients are busy with their lives and their jobs, and traveling for nine weeks is difficult.

“In some cases, five treatments that take only one week is the best course of radiation therapy,” he continued. “It will be much more convenient, less intrusive and less stressful emotionally and financially.”

SBRT uses rapid arc features for selected cancers. For example, selected lung, liver and prostate cancers, as well as highly selected brain cancers can be treated with SBRT.

“While this is not for everyone, patients that qualify may have their treatments condensed into one week,” Dr. Prasad said. “It is just as effective, maybe even more so, than other conventional treatments.

“In addition,” he noted, “SBRT causes no increase in toxicity or side effects, and the new machine can still do conventional treatments.”

During the next few weeks, it will be subjected to a series of rigorous tests and ready for the first patient in late March. In the interim, Dr. Prasad has continued to see patients for consultations and follow-ups. Patients needing treatment have been referred to a cancer center in Kansas, Nebraska or Colorado – whichever is geographically closest.

“With some low-risk cancers, however, a patient may be able to wait a few weeks until the new machine is up and running,” Dr. Prasad said.

Lindsey Fox, medical physicist, helps ensure the safety and quality of radiation treatments by managing the technical aspects. These include reviewing dose calculations, performing machine calibration and testing equipment routinely.

“Purchasing a new linear accelerator is similar to purchasing a new car,” Fox commented. “You don’t just choose the make and model; you also consider options that improve comfort and safety.

“We are upgrading treatment planning software, and investing in advanced imaging, positioning and testing equipment to improve the accuracy, comfort and safety of our treatments,” Fox explained.

With the advanced technology, come more rigorous testing and quality-assurance requirements.

“Equally important,” Fox said, “we have a caring, well-trained staff. Every person here is committed to excellence, as evidenced by our recent accreditation through the American College of Radiation Oncology.

“We will have state-of-the-art equipment that some larger institutes still don’t have,” Fox noted. “Western Kansans can receive the same or better care at HaysMed than at larger facilities far from home.”

Leo Elms, medical dosimetrist/operations manager, also is looking forward to the new linear accelerator and VisionRT equipment.

“The combination of these two pieces of equipment and additional software give us the ability to offer this advanced treatment,” Elms said. “The shorter courses of treatment are especially important because we serve such a large geographic area, which requires some patients to travel quite a distance to HaysMed.”

Elms mentioned the cancer institute’s radiation therapist has told patients about the new equipment. “They have voiced strong support for it,” Elms said. “We have even received thank-you cards from patients.

“Our department, the cancer institute and HaysMed are truly driven to provide the highest level of care,” he continued. “SBRT puts us on the leading edge of technology. Western Kansans are fortunate to have this level of technology and expertise available in their own backyard.”

The HaysMed Foundation is conducting a campaign called “Envision a Future Without Cancer” to raise funds for the $3 million project.

Donations are encouraged and HaysMed has committed to paying the balance.

Those who have made $100,000 contributions include Dr. Prasad and his family, Lillian Schumacher of Hays and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The Hadley Foundation has donated $1 million.

Donations can be sent to the HaysMed Foundation, 2220 Canterbury Drive, Hays, Ks. 67601 or by visiting www.haysmedfoundation.org/envision.

Jan30

HaysMed Radiation Oncology Receives Accreditation

By Hays Medical - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute

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Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Staff

Hays, KS (Jan 30, 2015) – The Radiation Oncology department at HaysMed’s Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute recently received accreditation for its radiation oncology program from the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO).

This 3-year accreditation, beginning in April, was granted after a rigorous survey by ACRO, which involved a review of the facility and equipment, staffing, processes, patients’ charts and a site visit by members of ACRO. After the survey was conducted, the data was reviewed, and the HaysMed Radiation Oncology program was determined to be in accordance with the standards of the American College of Radiation Oncology.

ACRO strives to ensure the highest quality care for radiation therapy patients and promote success in the practice of radiation oncology through education, responsible socioeconomic advocacy, and integration of science and technology into clinical practice.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the ACRO with this accreditation,” said William Cadoret, Director of the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute. “We work hard to ensure our radiation therapy is the highest quality. Our physicians and staff are highly educated and trained, and we continue to invest in our facility and equipment, such as our new SBRT linear accelerator and advanced technology like Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). The ACRO accreditation verifies that our program provides high quality radiation therapy to the people in Western Kansas.”

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