THE
joined vision of Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) and
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to expand cancer care
services locally with the new CMH/OHSU Cancer Care Center has
inspired many other partnerships and contributions to help fulfll this
long-term community need.
Te City of Astoria supported the vision through its urban renewal
project, and CMH hired local contractors to build the Cancer Care
Center inside the Park Medical Building. Te CMH Foundation
contributed furnishings, while the CMH Auxiliary Volunteers provided
new infusion chairs.
In addition, the CMH Planetree initiative to integrate art and
complementary therapies into healing environments led to a new
collaboration with the Clatsop Community College (CCC) Art
Department, local potters and the Astoria Dragon Kiln.
combine to build a support system of
hope and strength.
In a recent cancer support group, we
discussed what is helpful to healing. I
asked, “What would you like to see in a
cancer center where you receive your
treatments?”
Responses included:
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Something that connects us with nature.
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Waterfalls.
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A birdhouse outside the window.
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Snacks whenever we may feel well
enough to have them.
Canc� Cete
Buldg
By Richard Rowland
Artist and 3-D art instructor,
Clatsop Community College
Columbia Memorial Hospital
’
s visionary
commitment to the Planetree holistic
approach to health care is inspiring.
The Planetree philosophy was started
in San Francisco by Angelica Thieriot in
1978 as a response to the impersonal,
institutionalized treatment that she
received as a patient. So Planetree
reveals a personal evolution of change
in health care at its roots that will make
a diference in the experience of each
patient.
It is interesting to me that
Shared values:
By Nancy Magathan, RN
Nurse, educator
and cancer screening advocate
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it
takes a community to support loved ones
on the cancer journey.
Cancer not only disrupts a patient’s
life but relationships with friends and
family. Compassionate communication
and touch are needed to address the
emotional, mental, spiritual, social and
physical journey. Diverse gifts frommany
Relationships support healing
Nancy Magathan, RN, and
Richard Rowland, an artist
and CCC art instructor, are
both involved in partnerships
to support the Cancer Care
Center. Here are their
perspectives.
A BETTER
[
TWO PERSPECTIVES
]
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