Hundreds of residents in Monroe, Jackson, Juneau, Adams and other counties seeking expert cancer care will soon be able to receive their care closer to home.
Gundersen Health System has announced plans to build a 5,700 square-foot Comprehensive Cancer Center at their soon-to-be constructed Gundersen Tomah Clinic. The Cancer Center will offer medical and radiation oncology services and will include a linear accelerator to allow patients with cancer to receive radiation treatments in Tomah.
"We are giving patients in Tomah and the surrounding area better access to cancer care closer to their homes," explains Sarah Rossman, administrative director, Gundersen Cancer Services. "At times patients will either miss some treatments or decide not to receive treatments because of the distance."
Approximately 100 Gundersen patients in the Tomah area required radiation treatments in 2016. "Since most cancer patients receive treatments daily for up to nine weeks, patients in the Tomah area are driving approximately 100 miles a day, five days a week for nine weeks. This can not only take a toll on our patients, but also on their families," Rossman says.
Gundersen is collaborating with Tomah Memorial Hospital, which will be located adjacent to the Gundersen Tomah Clinic when construction of both facilities is completed. Tomah Memorial will provide chemotherapy and other infusion for patients, along with imaging.
"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Tomah Memorial to care for patients in Tomah and surrounding communities who are fighting cancer," says Scott Rathgaber, MD, CEO at Gundersen. "By working together, we are offering patients the most comprehensive care, while also making sure we are not duplicating services."
"Cancer services that will be part of the new Gundersen Tomah Clinic will help to enhance care that will be provided on our new Tomah Health campus," Tomah Memorial Hospital CEO Phil Stuart says. "We are looking forward to this partnership to ensure patients throughout western Wisconsin receive the highest quality cancer care available right here in Tomah."
Gundersen's Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tomah will have a separate entrance from the Clinic and designated parking lot to allow patients easier access for treatments. Construction of the new 77,000 square-foot Gundersen Tomah Clinic and Comprehensive Cancer Center is scheduled to begin late spring 2018, with completion in the summer of 2019.