Radiation Oncology Center
Artist rendering of the new Radiation Oncology Center and Alternate Care Site to open in 2011
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 am to 4:30 pm
Director: Roger Lawrence, BA, RT (R) (CT)
For Information: 620-252-1563
CRMC has been treating cancer in this community for over thirty years, and its Cancer Program is certified by the American College of Surgeons. In 2006, CRMC began the process of seeking congressional funding to build a new Radiation Oncology Center, and in 2009 the project became a reality with a ground breaking late that year. The Cancer Program consists of four modalities: Medical Oncology (Chemotherapy), Radiation Oncology, Surgery and the Cancer Registry. The addition of the new Radiation Oncology building will compliment the Tatman Cancer Center that was renovated in 2007.
Radiation oncology has been performed by cobalt therapy and linear accelerator for the past thirty years. With an increase in patient volume, the hospital outgrew the space and equipment, justifying the need for expansion. The new facility will be adjacent to the Medical Imaging and Surgery areas off of Fourth Street, allowing both outpatients and inpatients the convenience of having diagnostic work and treatment done in the same area. After completion of this building project, new radiation therapy equipment will be purchased, including a large bore CT scanner and new multi-energy linear accelerator. The new space will also have room to accommodate an in-house MRI which will be the next phase of the project.
A new safe room and alternate care site is also being added to the Radiation Oncology building project. This will provide a safe area to house patients in the event of a natural disaster. The 6500 square foot safe room will be located in the basement of the new Radiation Oncology building, accommodating 38 beds and 34 wheelchairs. It will also have a dedicated elevator for evacuating patients to the safe room, and will serve as a secondary treatment room with supplies and equipment to take care of patients.
Radiation Oncology - With Jennifer Carnahan AS, R.T. (R)(T), CMD & Alice McGuire, Staff Therapist
The personnel, doctors and administration at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center continue to be commited to providing timely, compassionate, expert radiation treatment and care to all patients in the geographic area. The compassion given to the patients is reflected with continuing numerous compliments paid to the personnel within the department.
Currently, we are looking forward to the Radiation Oncology department expansion with growth in physical size and updates in technology. The new Radiation Oncology building and equipment will cost approximately $10.5 million dollars and ground breaking for this project took place on Dec 16, 2009. The estimated completion time of construction is twelve months. It will take another two to four months to install new equipment and have it running properly. Our goal is to be treating patients in the new Radiation Technology department in Fall 2011.
Updates as mentioned above include a new large bore CT Simulator and multiple energy Linear Accelerator. CT simulation is the first step in the planning for radiation therapy treatment. The CT scan typically just takes minutes and is painless. The CT scanner, along with the sophistiated Eclipse treatment planning system, allows the radiation oncologist to accurately locate and visualize the tumor and normal structures. This makes it possible to find the most optimal approach and to deliver it with increased accuracy. A Linear Accelerator is the treatment machine most commonly used for external beam radiation therapy for cancer patients. It delivers a uniform dose of high-energy radiation to the tumor. This destroys cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. The recently purchased Superficial Therapy machine allows the oncologists to treat superficial skin cancers with a lower dose of radiation to the affected area.
The goal of the radiation oncologist and staff is to surround their cancer patients in an environment of compassion and safety, giving them all the information they need to lead as normal life as possible during their treatments. Excellence in treatment planning and high competency in machine skills is the standard.
Board Certified, Radiation Oncology Personnel
Medical Dosimetrist: Capable of performing dose calculations and assisting in calibration and verification of dose distribution within the patient. Also, aids in treatment plans and assist the physicist with quality control testing.
Medical Physicist: Calibrates radiation oncology equipment and specifications of therapy equipment ; performs acceptance testing and QA; measures, analyzes and tabulates beam data; reviews patients charts; and provides radiation safety.
Radiation Oncologist: Consults with patients, establishes and executes radiation treatment plan and evaluates treatment and follow ups.
Radiation Therapist: Administers radiation therapy to patients under the instruction of oncologists. They work intimately with cancer patients, preparing them for therapy and subsequently monitoring.
Current Technology
- Varian 600c Linear Accelerator
- Eclipse Treatment Planning System
- Toshiba CT Scanner
- Topex Superficial Therapy Machine
Upgrades in Technology for Summer, 2011
- Varian Clinac iX Linear Accelerator
- Eclipse Treatment Planning
- Toshiba Large Bore CT Scanner
Dr. Terry Powell, has served the Radiation Oncology Department for over 30 years at CRMC