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About Samaritan Regional Cancer Center
Samaritan Regional Cancer Center (SRCC), located on the campus of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, Oregon, is the dynamic cornerstone of Samaritan Health Services’ cancer program. The facility blends the power of advanced radiation technology with the gentle touch of sincere human compassion as it serves cancer patients and their families, from the coast to the Cascades and beyond. SRCC is also the home for Samaritan Hematology & Oncology Consultants, offering consultation and treatment for all types of cancer and blood disorders.
From the time it was first dedicated in 1995, SRCC has attracted national notice and regional acclaim. For example, the American Institute of Architects recognized the building for its light-filled, patient-friendly design and The Commission on Cancer bestowed on it the highest quality, Number 1, rating.
The cancer center takes its greatest pride, however, in the outstanding array of diagnostic, treatment and follow-up cancer services it offers. With its highly-trained team of physicians, therapists, nurses, dosimetrists, medical social workers, physicists, dietitians and hospital chaplains, the center offers uncompromising care, individualized for each patient.
Samaritan Regional Cancer Center is a member of the Association of Community Cancer Centers.
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Advanced Technology
- SRCC houses state-of-the-art, high energy linear accelerators, which are computer controlled to deliver an extremely precise radiation treatment based on each patient’s customized treatment plan.
- Each treatment plan is customized using a three-dimensional treatment planning computer that allows cancer center physicians and staff to use computed tomography (CT) images to create a 3-D model of each patient and a treatment plan that precisely conforms to each patient’s unique tumor size and location.
- To precisely shape the radiation beam, the cancer center uses a multileaf collimation system to deliver radiation to the patient’s tumor and shield or avoid the healthy tissue.
- For tumors that require particularly precise radiation targeting, SRCC uses intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This advanced form of external beam radiation is especially valuable in treating tumors that are situated among healthy tissues or critical organs. IMRT allows for a radiation beam to be so accurately sculpted to the tumor shape that it can zoom in on its target with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The precision targeting also allows physicians to intensify the radiation to the cancerous area.
- Each of the high energy linear accelerators used to deliver the patient's customization plan is equipped with an advanced electronic portal imaging device that the radiation therapist and physician use to guide the radiation treatments. This advanced technology (called Image Guided Radiation Therapy or IGRT) allows us to not only deliver a very precise treatment but also allows us to minimize the patient's daily treatment time.
The effect of these technologies is concentrated treatment of the target tumor with reduced danger to surrounding structures and, ultimately, fewer side effects for the patient.
Tumor Registry
The Samaritan Regional Cancer Center is the site of the Samaritan Regional Tumor Registry (SRTR). The tumor registry gathers information from all five Samaritan Health Services’ hospitals to help the Oregon State Cancer Registry (OSCaR) track the incidence, treatment and outcomes for cancer and non-cancer tumors.
The Oregon Legislature established OSCaR in 1995, and SRTR began reporting information on all cancers diagnosed in Oregon as of Jan. 1, 1996. The legislature defines the purpose of OSCaR as “reducing the burden of cancer in Oregon by providing information to design, target, monitor, facilitate, and evaluate efforts to determine the causes of sources of cancer among the residents of Oregon.”
Dawn Fucillo, program director of Samaritan Regional Cancer Center said,“The collection of data by the tumor registry staff is an enormous amount of work, but the effort is absolutely worth it. By tracking and evaluating this data, we’re able to offer our patients the very best, most proven treatments available. OSCaR is a valuable service for the whole state.”
Resource Library
Cancer information, in print, video and digital form, is available to anyone in the community at the James R. Mol Resource Library at the cancer center. The library contains a wealth of information in books, brochures, pamphlets and videos, all of which may be used or borrowed at no charge. The library also features a personal computer with Internet access for on-line information searches.
The library is made possible through generous assistance from James R. Mol, who served as administrator of Good Samaritan Hospital (now called Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center) from 1967 until his retirement in 1987.
Samaritan Albany General Hospital recently opened a new cancer resource center, featuring a library with books, DVDs, CDs, computers and Internet access; community rooms for classes and support group meetings; a Rejuvenation Salon stocked with wigs, prostheses, headdresses, make-up and skin care products and more. For more information, click here.
Recognition for Quality
Samaritan Regional Cancer Center, together with the entire cancer program, distinguished itself as one of the finest in the nation when it received its “highest quality” rating from an on-site survey by the Commission on Cancer. The commission is a multidisciplinary program of the American College of Surgeons. Fewer than 30 percent of cancer programs nationwide receive this highest designation. Furthermore, only slightly more than 20 percent of the nation’s hospitals have approved cancer programs at all.
Among the areas surveyed by the commission were: program management and administration, clinical management, inpatient and outpatient care, support services, research, quality management and improvement, cancer data management, public education prevention and detection, and professional education and staff support.
The “highest quality” designation was achieved through a group effort. In addition to Samaritan Regional Cancer Center, the surveyors looked at oncology nursing areas, infusion services, rehabilitation, oncology surgical specialists, community projects and outreach.
Samaritan Regional Cancer Center is also a member of the Association of Community Cancer Centers.
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