JACKSON, Calif. - An Amador County philanthropic organization, the Spinty Foundation, is donating $450,000 toward the building of a $1.2 million infusion therapy center in Jackson, a needed community service that will allow cancer patients to receive care near their homes, it was announced Wednesday evening.
With this major gift and $26,000 in other donations, Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation has already raised the majority of funds needed from the community in 2015 in order to receive a matching grant from Sutter Health to construct the new infusion therapy center.
"Most cancer patients in Amador County need to travel an hour and sometimes more to receive infusion services, such as radiation and chemotherapy," said Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Anne Platt. "We are very happy that the Spinty Foundation made such a generous gift so that, when completed, all cancer patients in Amador County and beyond will have access to excellent infusion services right here in their own community."
Nearly two-thirds of Amador County cancer patients are travelling outside of the county to receive infusion treatments, which causes hardships for patients, their families and caregivers. In addition, the Sutter Amador infusion therapy center will be aligned with others in the Sutter Cancer Centers in Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region and, therefore, will be able to offer services and treatments not currently available in Amador County.
The 2,500-square-foot infusion therapy center will have up to nine infusion therapy rooms and will be located in the Sutter Amador Outpatient Services Center at 100 Mission Blvd. in Jackson, adjacent to Sutter Amador Hospital. This center will improve the patient and family experience and provide a greater continuum of care for patients. With the new infusion therapy center, Sutter Amador Hospital plans to recruit a second oncologist to its medical staff.
Other details of the planned infusion therapy center include:
Patient/Family Comfort Items
* Reclining chairs for our patients, which would allow the patient to adjust to their desired comfort level and not be dependent on the nurse to adjust their chair. Heated seats would provide additional comfort during treatment.
* Blanket warmers for our patients. The majority of infusion treatments are provided to patients at room temperature and can make the patient feel cold. Warm blankets provide immediate comfort.
* Coffee/tea service to patients and families in the waiting area.
Healing Environment
* Some infusions are long - up to 10 hours - and patients desire some distraction to help decrease anxiety during treatment. The new infusion therapy center will have TVs and listening devices, which have been shown to alleviate fears, help coping and provide a distraction.
* Artwork will create a less clinical and more healing environment.
This major gift comes on the heels of another philanthropic success for oncology services at Sutter Amador Hospital. The community raised $151,000, with a Sutter Health matching donation of $150,000, in order to purchase a Tomosynthesis 3D Mammography Unit and a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Attachment to detect breast cancer more efficiently and effectively. The donor party Wednesday evening also celebrated that success.
To partner with Sutter Amador Hospital in support of this and other fundraising initiatives, please contact Jody Boetzer in the philanthropy office at (209) 257-7619.
