Since 2011, the Pembroke Regional Hospital has worked in partnership with the Regional Cancer Center at The Ottawa Hospital to operate a Level 4 Satellite Chemotherapy Clinic combined with Medical Daycare. The provision of these services has enabled patients to receive care close to home, surrounded by loved ones and supported by a team of highly trained, compassionate professionals at a very vulnerable point in their lives.

 

These same patients will now benefit from an extensive upgrade and expansion of the hospital’s treatment space which has created a more modern, bright and welcoming healthcare environment.

 

On October 29th, approximately 60 guests including members of the hospital’s leadership team, staff, physicians, donors, community partners, municipal representatives and patients came together for the official opening of the space.

 

Acknowledging how cancer touches many in our community, PRH President and CEO Sabine Mersmann said “Whether it’s a friend, a loved one, a colleague, or ourselves - it’s a journey that no one walks alone. And while we can’t change the diagnosis, what we can do - and what we strive to do every single day - is enhance the experience of care. We can create spaces that feel safe, warm, and welcoming, and spaces that offer dignity, comfort, and connection.”

 

In the last fiscal year alone, the hospital facilitated 1,200 visits for chemotherapy and another 1,200 for Medical Daycare procedures like blood transfusions, intravenous iron infusions and other IV medications.

 

Mrs. Mersmann added that the new open-concept treatment area allows for more interaction between patients, fostering a sense of community and support. Recognizing the role that families and caregivers play in a patient’s healing journey, she also shared that the new space includes improved waiting areas and new education rooms for those who are there to support loved ones.

 

This latest construction work represents Phase Two of the hospital’s Cancer Care Project. Phase One, which was unveiled in April 2023, involved upgrades to the hospital’s inpatient Pharmacy space which doubled the team’s capacity for preparing chemotherapy drugs. Together, these improvements are part of a larger vision - one that PRH shares with its regional cancer care partners - to bring more care closer to home.

 

In her remarks, Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation Board Chair Lisa Edmonds shared donor stories and reflected on the community’s incredible generosity through their financial support of the project. “When we launched the Cancer Care Campaign in 2021, we knew the goal was ambitious - $3.5 million during a global pandemic. But our community stepped up and this campaign became more than fundraising; it became a movement of hope.”

 

Local resident Michael Blackmore, a Registered Nurse for the past 35 years and a health care executive in long term care, shared his experience as a chemotherapy patient at PRH and someone who has benefitted from having his care close to home.

 

“From the moment you arrive at reception, you're greeted with kindness and a welcome familiarity that grows with each appointment. Care is performed by (nursing) staff who exemplify professionalism, compassion, and a genuine commitment to your well-being. Their expertise and empathy make what can be a very difficult journey feel more manageable and less isolated,” said Mr. Blackmore.

 

“Receiving care close to home reduces the stress and travel time associated with appointments, allowing me to focus more on my recovery and maintaining a sense of normalcy, while the convenience and accessibility of this program with seamless integration with Ottawa Hospital oncologists truly enhances the overall patient experience,” he said, referencing the network of more than 30 credentialed oncologists who work together with local physicians to provide personalized, high-quality care.

 

In addition to expressing his gratitude to each team member who provides care, Mr. Blackmore praised all involved in the construction project for the “new facility which not only provides modern, comfortable treatment spaces, but also reflects the hospital's vision for continued growth and excellence in care.”

 

Rounding out the ceremony were remarks by General Surgeon, Dr. Amanda Williamson, who spoke about the local physicians who support the clinic with medical coverage and a blessing of the space, those who use it and those who provide care in it, by Father Mitchell Beachey.

 

Before inviting attendees to tour the space, Beth Brownlee, Vice-President of Clinical Services and the hospital’s Chief Nursing Executive, remarked that the space is more than just walls and equipment, but rather a reflection of shared values.

 

“It was designed with intention, shaped by the voices of those who provide care and those who receive it, and built to support healing in every sense of the word.”

 

Currently, chemotherapy treatment at PRH is provided for those with solid tumours such as cancer of the lung, breast, skin, bladder, kidney, the gastrointestinal system and some blood-borne cancers. As the hospital make plans for the future, the possibility of also treating gynecological cancers is being explored.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator

Pembroke Regional Hospital

(613) 732-3675, extension 6165 / carolyn.levesque@prh.ca