New Infusion Center Opens at Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Medicine Women's Health and Cancer Care Center has opened a new integrated infusion center at Lake Forest Hospital. The infusion center is the new home for the patient-centered, multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, case managers and nurse navigators working together to ensure Lake Forest Hospital patients receive the highest quality of care in a comforting environment.
The new infusion center includes seven semiprivate infusion bays, one private treatment room, and five exam rooms. Infusion services are administered by certified oncology-trained infusion nurses. The breast care resource center and oncology nurse navigators are in a shared corridor, bringing these caregivers related to breast and oncology care into one area of the hospital.
"Research shows us that having the patient's physician in the same space as the treatment area is the best care model for patients and ultimately improves health outcomes, because there is easier communication between the physician and the nurses providing the infusion services," said Michael G. Ankin, MD, FACP, FCCP, Lake Forest Hospital's vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer. "And patients feel more comfortable as well, knowing their physician is in the same office and can answer questions or discuss treatment."
Lake Forest Hospital's new medical oncologists Neal Christiansen, MD, and Valerie Nelson, MD, MBA, as well as gynecologic oncologist Alok Pant, MD, will see patients for office visits and oversee infusion services for patients receiving chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Tara Breslin, MD, breast surgeon and medical director of the hospital's breast care program, will continue to see patients in the clinic for evaluation and treatment of breast cancer and benign breast problems. All four physicians are members of Northwestern Medical Group and are faculty at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, bringing access to clinical trials to Lake Forest Hospital patients.
The new infusion center is located within the Hunter Family Center for Women's Health on the hospital campus and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Infusion services will also continue to be offered at Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Cancer Center.
To learn more about infusion services and these locations, call (847) 535-7401.
Lake Forest Hospital's cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for comprehensive community cancer programs.