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Facility Touts Start-to-Finish Cancer Care

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 May 2006, 12:03 CDT

By Ronnie Moore, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

May 17--RINGGOLD, Ga. -- The many aspects of dealing with cancer -- from diagnosis to surgery and postoperative counseling -- are being dealt with at Hutcheson on the Parkway, hospital officials said.

Expertise in the various areas means a half dozen entities all work in harmony for patients under one umbrella -- and at the center.

"Six months ago family physicians, radiologists, pathologists, medical surgical and radia tion oncologists concluded there was a need for comprehensive breast center, said Rebecca Ratchford, Diag nostic Radiol ogy Consultants administra " evolved to place the patient in the center of the wheel with physicians on the outer portion."

The site has separate, but integrated, cancer center phases, starting with mammograms, the Fuller Cancer Center, Battlefield Imaging, surgery center, physicians center, a laboratory, pharmacy and Auxiliary Breast Center.

Any suggestion of a sterile doctor's office, waiting or consultation rooms is dispelled with a relaxed den or living room atmosphere.

Mrs. Ratchford said the idea is to reduce stress and make patients and their families feel comfortable.

Carolyn Middlebrooks was a patient at the center earlier this month. She said the combined work by doctors and nurses made the experience "beyond awesome."

She said the team effort among the imaging center staff, surgeons and the breast cancer center made the process easier.

"Each doctor knew what the other was doing," Mrs. Middlebrooks said.

She said she had not been to a doctor in some time, and when she realized she had a problem she found that many doctors she contacted weren't taking new patients. Then she got scheduled at Hutcheson on the Parkway.

"The setup makes the news and process less stressful. It's a fantastic concept. I had blood tests and then a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy the same day," Mrs. Middlebrooks said.

She said an important part of the process was the presence of a nurse and a breast cancer survivor. "They made sure I wasn't alone," Mrs. Middlebrooks said. "I've been called numerous times. The follow-up is excellent."

Mrs. Ratchford said services include the only digital mammography screening in North Georgia, a biopsy, discussion of treatment options, a nurse coordinator for women to set up all appointments, treatment /surgery and education/ support.

Dr. Larry Samuels is one of several diagnostic radiology consultants and board-certified physicians at the 4700 Battlefield Parkway location.

He said the process helps to expedite diagnosis.

"Having this all-inclusive, integrated program can reduce the time of testing, diagnosis, treatment discussions and surgery /treatment from two to three weeks at many hospitals to two to three days here," Dr. Samuels said.

E-mail Ronnie Moore at ronniem@timesfreepress.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

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Source: Chattanooga Times/Free Press

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