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Cancer care services expanded at Mile BluffBy Larry ArnoldCancer patients who need chemotherapy or other infusion treatments can utilize the Cancer Care Department at Mile Bluff Medical Center. The department began treating patients last summer, continuing to make it possible for people to receive these treatments without driving to Madison or LaCrosse. Chemotherapy was previously offered on a limited basis at Mile Bluff Clinic and is now given at the hospital five days each week.
She explained that palliative care is available to patients that may not need hospice but have health conditions that may require additional assistance in their daily activities. “A nurse comes to the patient’s home to evaluate their situation; to suggest what help is available.” When a patient’s primary care provider diagnoses cancer, the patient is then referred to a UW Health oncologist who decides on a course of treatment. When chemotherapy or other infusion is recommended, it is given in the Urgent Care Department at Mile Bluff. The treatments can take from 15 minutes to six hours. Should surgery be required, most procedures are done by general surgeons on Mile Bluff’s medical staff: Tim Napier, William Marculis or Rodney Malinowski. When asked what the most common cancers are in this area, Rhonda said: “I would say that the most common cancers we are treating are breast and colon cancer; but we also see a significant number of patients with lung and prostate cancers.” The department director, when asked if there were any new treatments for cancer, said: “We see a lot of changes in how patients tolerate chemotherapy. New medications before and after a treatment can help patients lead a very normal life. Many of them continue working through their treatment. We are finding that new cancer drugs are being developed each year.” “Our department is a good option for cancer patients. It allows them to have chemotherapy and other treatments done locally, which cuts down on travel time and saves the patients both time and money. The convenience is important to our patients and their families,” commented Rhonda. After completing high school in Mauston, Rhonda studied at UW LaCrosse and Wisconsin Technical College to get her nursing associate degree. She is now working on her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at UW-Madison. As the director of the new department, Rhonda takes care of the administrative work and develops policies and procedures. She also administers the chemotherapy to patients. She will soon be joined by another registered nurse who will assist in chemotherapy administration. Mile Bluff Medical Center is pleased to have the opportunity to serve patients with this recently-expanded service line. Photo: Rhonda Larson, Director of Mile Bluff’s Cancer Care Department, is glad to be able to offer more services to the Mauston community. |
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Mile Bluff Medical Center/ 1050 Division St./ Mauston, WI 53948 / 608 847 6161 Mile Bluff Medical Center, 1050 Division Street, Mauston, WI 53948 608 847 6161 or Toll free in WI at 800 252 4377 © 2008 Mile Bluff Medical Center |
Rhonda Larson,
director of the department, said: “Our goal is to provide more services to the
patient; in addition to these treatments, our department offers social services
support, dietary and nutritional support, and pain management. We also have a
connection with hospice and palliative care.”