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NYP/Lawrence recently opened the doors to its new $65 million Cancer Center and surgical suite, which provides patients with comprehensive care, beginning with screenings and cancer prevention all the way through treatment and therapy for cancer survivors.
The new Cancer Center furthers the collaborative effort between the Bronxville hospital and the rest of the New York Presbyterian Healthcare system. Doctors and specialists regularly video conference and meet to consult about certain patients and treatment options. Doctors estimate that each patients’ file is seen by no fewer than five sets of expert eyes.
“It’s the best of both worlds. You have all the resources and convenience of the community, with the Columbia faculty and academic community.” Dr. Maureen Killackey, the clinical director of the new Cancer Center said. “It’s a quality collaborative effort.”
Radiation oncology specialist Henry Lee noted that improvements in technology has made the collaboration with his colleagues in other hospitals seamless, allowing them to share slides, discuss patients and act “as one team.”
“We all share one vision, and we’re all working on it,” he said. “We’re fully integrated with the (New York-Presbyterian/Columbia) radiation department; there’s nothing they can do there that we can’t do here. It’s a huge spectrum and we have the ability to do a lot of things on both campuses.”
“The improvements and changes we implement aren't by mistake,” NYPLawrence President Michael Fosina added. “We’ve seen what works and doesn’t at our other campuses, so we started with a strong foundation.”
For the first time, patients will have access to radiation oncology at NYPLawrence. The hospital installed a PET/CT scanner and LINAC machine that is among the most advanced linear accelerators available. The Cancer Center also includes an oncology pharmacy, labs and multiple exam rooms and six new operating suites, making it a “one-stop shop” for treatment.
“There was a demand in Westchester County, and we’re trying to meet that and provide the services that the community needs,” Fosina added. “We wanted to improve the patient experience by providing all of the services they could need under one roof. We’re moving the providers now, not the patients.”
Through their collaboration with NYPColumbia, the staff at NYPLawrence said that they were hopeful of helping patients avoid dozens of trips to New York City for treatment by bringing that care to southern Bronxville.
“We all have to talk and understand what the others are doing; it’s like working together in real time to make sure the patient gets the best care,” Lee said. “That’s what makes this a true Cancer Center, not just a collaboration.”
“With the integration between NYP and their colleagues in Columbia, we’re able to provide resources and care for residents that Lawrence didn’t have before,” Fosina added. “We’re all here for the convenience of our patients and their families, and the Cancer Center brings.”
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