The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BY AMANDA PBRSICO apersico®yrmg. com The first thing you will notice about the cancer centre at Markham Stouffville Hospi- tal is the open space and natural light. ’Ihe renovated space is equipped with large windows that overlook a garden. a lobby with a fireplace. Ws at each chemo- therapy station and specially created cairn- ing artwork adorning the walls “It looks absoluteiy stunning,” said hospi‘ tal oncologist Dr. Henry Solow. "When I first saw the new space. my eyes were wide open and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. We plan to match our care with how this new place looke" Earlier this; week. the hospital hosted a special sneak peak of the new facility for Thecenmeisset toopenand befullyfunc tional for patients next week Patient care is the focal point of the new cancer centre. built in the former emergency department. “You don‘t recruit patients.“ hospital pres- ident and CEO Janet Breed said. "Patients choose you. Patients choose a hospital because therealegoodcaxegivers. it is easier to access and once you are there you feel hopeful. Believe in us because we believe in The old cancer centre could house about six or seven chemotherapy chairs in one room about two feet apart. Dr. Solow said. "It was’m E’éfiféfl' €556.65; 'tbo close a spacefrhe saidt “Add a family member and it could get a little crowded a little soon. This is 10 times the size.” The new centre houses nine chemother- apy chairs now and can accommodate up to about 14. The specialized heated chairs are also newâ€" fuxided by the community through the Markham Stoufl‘ville Hospital Foundation “When I first saw tin new space, mymsmwidcoponandlhad topickmyiawupoflmmor.“ plantomatchourcmwifllhow mismphcolooka” Comfort, space key in new cancer centre Dr. Henry Solow Oncologist and cos ' about $4.200 each. “It is about comfort of the patient." Dr. Solow said. “And these chemo chairs are Clinic manager Pauline Brillinger of Stoufiville peers through a window (with a sliding shutter) at one of the new chemotherapy chairs in Markham Stoufi'vflle Hospital's new cancer centre this week. It’s set to open next week. Checkoutavideoby “ SteveSomwiueonme newcanoercateoenmat mnemondedmncmn StoufMIIeHospMLGoto yomefionmm and dick On the web the Rolls-Royce of chairs This is a first class seat.” Each chemo station is equipped with a TV and DVD and BluRay player and each space can be divided with a collapsible barrier for added privacy. added privacy. “Before. you would have oneTV for five or six patients.” said breast health and oncology clinical manger Pauline Brillinger. “It's a lonfi day for patients. They are so afraid and so anxious. this is something small that helps put the time-fin." The new centre. built as pan of the hospi- tal's $400 million expansion project. includes a negative pressure isolation mom. several exam rooms. an in-house pharmacy and technician to mix chemo medication on site. a patient-family consult room and a pneu- matic or vacuum tube system used to trans- port r'nedication from the hospital‘s main pharmacy as well as send blood samples to the laboratory for testing. The centre is also equipped with com- puterized physician onder software. whene chemo dosage is automatically calculated based on change in weight and blood work. leaving less room for enor. Ms Brillinger Cunentiy. the hospital treats about 400 cancer patients a year with more than 2.700 visits and expects to grow to about 800 patients in the next few years STAFF PHOTOISTEVE SOMERVILLE