The development of the Radiation Care Center is an investment that will benefit the community in a number of different ways now and into the future. It is a statement that the Hospital is responding to community needs by making state-of-the-art medical services available locally. The project will increase the Hospital’s capacity and ability to treat many forms of cancer. To name a few:
- Breast
- Lung
- Colon
- Cervical/Uterine
- Prostate/Testicular
- Bone
- Throat
- Pancreatic
- Brain
The Radiation Care Center will enable Langlade Memorial Hospital to provide quality comprehensive cancer care in a caring and supportive environment. It will aid efforts to promote the early detection and treatment of cancer which has a direct positive effect on the improvement of survival rates.
“At Langlade Memorial Hospital, care is personal, friendly and compassionate as well as excellent. Birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated but more importantly, hands are held, hugs are offered and tears are often shared.”
~ A staff member ~
The development of the Radiation Care Center will have economic benefits to the community as well. With comprehensive care available locally, more patients can be treated. Communities with up-to-date medical facilities are viewed favorably by business. The presence of the Hospital and the expansion of its services attract qualified physicians and other trained medical personnel to the area, thus improving the economic climate as well as providing needed services. In addition, Langlade Memorial Hospital has more than 350 employees; in 2006, the payroll was $17,136,092. Most Langlade Memorial Hospital employees live, work and shop in the community, thus providing added economic benefit. In fact, for every payroll dollar the economic impact is returned seven times.
Langlade Memorial Hospital already is a mainstay of the region. It offers a full range of services and is a 25-bed critical access, Joint Commission-accredited Catholic hospital serving a population of approximately 26,000 people. At present, there are 32 active and 38 consulting medical staff members plus a well-trained staff of nurses, technicians and other medical and support personnel.
The Hospital admits 1,500 inpatients annually, and performs more than 34,000 outpatient procedures and about 1,500 surgical procedures annually. The Emergency Department treats over 11,000 patients each year and has full-time emergency physicians available on site 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. The Walk-in Clinic, which opened in August of 1999, averages about 600 visits per month. The Hospital has financially performed above the state and national averages for rural hospitals and is extremely well-equipped diagnostically.
The addition of the Radiation Care Center is an investment in the future of the Hospital and the community. It will enhance the quality healthcare that is offered to the community. It will be an added benefit to the region professionally and economically. It will also be an example of Langlade Memorial Hospital’s continuing commitment to excellence and compassionate quality care and to its values of dignity, compassion, stewardship, quality and service. Completion of the project will be a statement of the successful partnership between the Hospital and the community it serves to ensure local availability of the most up-to-date medical services.
“I have been through radiation twice. The first time I had to go to Wausau 5 days a week. My dad drove me because the treatments often left me tired. It was in December so the weather was sometimes iffy but you don't ever want to miss a treatment so you go no matter what.
That drive took so much time away from me. There are so many challenges when you're facing cancer - having all of my care right here in Antigo would have been a relief.
When I see the new radiation center I will think of the difference it will make
to people going through what I did.”
~Teri Rogman ~
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