/24-7PressRelease/ - BILLINGS, MT, June 26, 2008 - Due to an overwhelmingly positive response from the community, Billings Clinic Foundation is increasing its campaign goal to raise an additional $2 million to help fund the construction of a 26-bed Inpatient Oncology Unit according to Campaign Co-Chairs and community volunteers Bob and Penni Nance.
As part of the creation of its world-class comprehensive cancer center, Billings Clinic now plans to construct a new Inpatient Oncology Unit on the fourth floor of the new building which also houses the Emergency & Trauma Center. This new inpatient oncology unit complements the outpatient cancer center for which construction was launched last fall. Both projects are part of Billings Clinic's multi-year campus expansion plan.
Opening in early 2009, the new Inpatient Oncology Unit addresses current space challenges in the existing inpatient medical oncology unit and supports the unique needs of hospitalized cancer patients. In addition, the creation of additional beds will greatly help alleviate a shortage of overall bed capacity at Billings Clinic's hospital. The new Inpatient Oncology Unit features:
• 26 private patient rooms, including 12 positive pressure rooms with HEPA filtration, a state-of-the-art filtration system that removes 99.97% of all airborne particles and one negative pressure isolation room with HEPA filtration for patients with airborne infections.
• An education and resource center offering brochures, books, videos, and Internet access for disease-specific information and online support groups.
• A patient and family gathering area specifically designed for patients with weakened immune systems.
• An exercise room to provide physical activity for stress reduction and to help avoid complications related to being sedentary during prolonged hospitalizations.
• A kitchenette with dining area for patients and their families to share meals in a home-like setting.
• Four nourishment stations conveniently located throughout the unit for 24-hour access to nutritional snacks and beverages.
• Two private family consultation rooms.
• Two satellite pharmacies.
Inpatient Oncology Unit rooms will be approximately 300 square feet in size, one and a half times the size of current rooms. They will have large exterior windows to maximize daylight exposure and provide views of either the Rims and the Deaconess Healing Garden, or the Beartooth Mountains. To help minimize environmental stressors, patient rooms and gathering areas will have comfortable furnishings, soothing colors and noise-reducing measures.
Designed for patient safety and healing, the rooms will have specific zones for the patient, caregivers and family. Patient rooms will feature advanced medical technology including electronic bedside charting and remote telemetry capability.
The cost to build and equip the new Inpatient Oncology Unit is $7 million. Billings Clinic is relying on at least $2 million in community philanthropy to help achieve this effort. For this reason, Billings Clinic Foundation is increasing its current Cancer Center Capital Campaign goal by $2 million to help with this important need.
To date, the cancer center campaign has raised over $7.5 million, which includes over $1.1 million from Billings Clinic employees, $1.75 million from Billings Clinic physicians, $200,000 from Billings Clinic's volunteer organization and over $2 million dollars from community members who serve on the Billings Clinic Board and Billings Clinic Foundation Board. Other gifts thus far exceed $2.5 million and represent support from individuals, families, businesses, corporations and foundations.
"The community response to Billings Clinic's vision for cancer care is overwhelming," said Bob Nance, Campaign Co-Chair. "We thank every one of our donors for their generous support. We are so fortunate to live in such a giving community."
Local architects, engineers and contractors are designing and building the new facilities with input from Billings Clinic cancer care team members, Billings Clinic cancer patients and their families. Billings Clinic is a not-for-profit organization based in Billings, Montana, governed by the community, with physician leadership at all levels. Billings Clinic operates a hospital in Billings as well as the regions largest and most comprehensive multi-specialty physician clinic with 215 physicians, and 55 physician assistants and nurse practitioners in 35 different specialties.
About Billings Clinic
Billings Clinic is a not-for-profit organization based in Billings, Montana, governed by the community, with physician leadership at all levels. Billings Clinic operates a hospital in Billings as well as the regions largest and most comprehensive multi-specialty physician clinic with 215 physicians, and 55 physician assistants and nurse practitioners in 35 different specialties.
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