Expanding care

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Meeting the needs of cancer patients and their loved ones.

It was thanks to a deal between two of the leading healthcare organizations in Michigan that brought the expert treatment of the Karmanos Cancer Institute to McLaren Oakland and the residents of Oakland County.

But that commitment didn’t end there.

The Pontiac hospital once again met that pledge when it planned, built and enthusiastically cut the ribbon to open its Inpatient Oncology Unit.

The 21-bed, sixth floor unit is a $14 million commitment to that pledge and was designed with not only the patient in mind, but their loved ones as well.

“In 2018, when we brought Karmanos to Oakland County, we made a promise to the community,” said Margaret Dimond, president and CEO of McLaren Oakland. “The patient’s experience is another example of that promise. We’re here for our patients every step of the way — from diagnosis, treatment, recovery and through to survivorship.”

Inpatient oncology is a specialized unit of the hospital created to meet the unique inpatient hospitalization needs of cancer patients.

“Any cancer patient undergoing treatment can experience health complications, either directly associated with their cancer or not,” said Sherry Sciarrino, patient care manager of inpatient oncology. “Patients in a vulnerable condition while receiving their specialized cancer treatment have unique needs. We’re here to provide them with excellent care and support them along the way.”

The unit is staffed with physicians and nurses knowledgeable on each patient’s individualized care plan. And McLaren Oakland leadership visits the unit every day to ensure that each need is being met — not just the needs of the patient, but those of their support teams, who are provided sleeping and concierge accommodations.

The Inpatient Oncology Unit also houses the Acute Care Center, of which patients are informed about upon discharge.

This specially designed clinic is staffed to address the side effects or acute symptoms often associated with cancer care, such as nausea, dehydration, fever and vomiting, among others.