Miles matter when a person is sick. The burden of travel can add expense, stress and anxiety to the life of a person who should focus on healing. That is why Jamestown Regional Medical Center will open its JRMC Cancer Center on June 17.
“This is a historic day for Jamestown and the surrounding communities,” said Mike Delfs, JRMC President & CEO. “The employees, board and community have dreamed of this day since we opened our new location in 2011.”
The community fully funded the JRMC Cancer Center’s $1.9 million capital costs.
Miles matter because miles are expensive. Miles make a sick person feel sicker. Miles mean lost work, missed soccer games and empty seats at church.
In Stutsman County, cancer is the leading cause of death for individuals ages 45-84, according to the North Dakota Department of Health. More than 350 people in JRMC’s nine-county region are diagnosed with cancer each year. Those same people travel more than 200 miles round trip for chemotherapy infusions and other cancer treatments. This may be a monthly, weekly or even daily trip.
JRMC expects more than 100 individuals to receive cancer care in its cancer center each month. The JRMC Cancer Center includes six sun-lit infusion rooms, two exam rooms, a nutrition area and nurses station. Patients’ individual treatment areas include state-of-the-art, sit-to-stand infusion chairs and companion chairs for visitors, smart TVs, WiFi and refreshments for patients and their companions.
People in rural communities deserve access to state-of-the-art care close to home, said Trisha Jungels, Chief Nursing Officer.
“Warmth, healing and comfort. When you walk into the JRMC Cancer Center, you know you are being cared for like family,” Jungels said.
To celebrate the opening of the JRMC Cancer Center, a ribbon cutting is set for noon, Thursday, June 13 at JRMC. This event is free and open to the public. It includes a light lunch, hope rock painting and self-guided cancer center tours. Reservations not required.
To learn more about the JRMC Cancer Center, call (701) 952-1050.