MDNews - Central New York

BY JOSH GARCIA ONEIDA HEALTHCARE AND ROSWELL PARK A GROWING PARTNERSHIP BE T WEEN ONEIDA HE ALTHCARE AND ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER CRE ATES LOCAL ACCESS TO TOP QUALIT Y CANCER SERVICES AND SPECIALISTS IN ONEIDA. UN T IL R ECEN T LY, CEN T R A L NE W YORK residents were of ten burdened w ith a long commute to receive ca re. Access to a Nationa l Ca ncer Institute (NCI)-desig nated ca ncer center — one that meets the highest level of ca ncer ca re a nd resea rch nationa lly — used to require one to drive to New York Cit y, Buffa lo or even out of state. Un for t u nately, t he tr ip to Bu f fa lo or New York Cit y f rom Centra l New York ta kes severa l hours. That ma kes it diff icult for patients with ca ncer to a rra nge convenient treatment sched- ules, and may be an uncomfortably long ride if they a re dea ling w it h the side effects of chemotherapy treatments or radiation therapy. " T h e r e 's t h e a d d e d b u r d e n a n d expense of travel, food, gas and possible hotel stays," says Debra Wa lz, AOCNP, W HN P-BC, Ca ncer Ca re Director of Nursing at Oneida Hea lthca re. " W hen you're not feeling well, that 's the la st thing you want. If possible, it 's better to stay close to home, friends a nd fa mily." Seeing the need for more convenient loca l access to NCI-qua lity cancer care in Centra l New York, Oneida Hea lthcare a n d R o s w e l l P a rk C ompr e h e n s i v e Cancer Care staff use NCI guidelines denoting the highest level of cancer care and research nationally. Expand Cancer Care in Central New York 0 6 0 6❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R S T O R Y

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