Cancer Care with Heart at GenesisCare
Successful cancer care is about more than innovative treatments and technology. Melanie Rosettenstein discovers Noosa’s brand-new radiation therapy centre aiming to create a positive and caring web of support for patients.
GenesisCare’s new Noosa facility, strives to be an oasis of care for local cancer patients by providing holistic clinical, emotional and personalised care. For the estimated 500 patients expected to be treated there annually, the $12 million radiation therapy centre aims to be a sanctuary, exactly what a person undergoing cancer treatment may need. Featuring earthy tones in ochre, sage green and grey, plush carpets you want to wiggle your toes into, and large soothing murals of the Noosa Everglades, it’s impossible to not feel in good hands as you walk through the doors.
But there’s more than calming decor that meets the eye in this stunning new facility. Yes, it’s about high technology and progress in cancer treatment, but most importantly, it’s about people. The focus? To care for each individual, taking care of their unique needs in a holistic and caring way, going as far as ensuring efficient and flexible appointments, where patients can be in and out of daily appointments in just 20 minutes.
Supported by experienced radiation oncologists including Dr Debra Furniss and Dr Bradley Wong, both well-established in the local healthcare network; and Dr David Schlect, who’s been delivering radiation therapy techniques for more than 30 years, the centre also prides itself on its friendly nursing and admin support team. Speaking at the centre’s opening, Dr Furniss said they had wonderful admin staff who were going to be the welcoming faces that people see as they walked through the door.
“We’ve also got a wonderful nursing team, experienced radiation therapists and allied health professionals that are going to help us manage and support patients through their treatments,” she said. “Our speciality team is also well known in the Noosa community to both patients and referring clinicians and has strong relationships with local doctors and support services.”
From a clinical perspective, the centre has spacious, comfortable rooms where compassionate nurses see their patients before and after treatments, offering clinical support on how they can care for themselves during what can be a challenging health experience. The patient experience team is on hand to listen to feedback, including regular surveys that feed into the facility’s design and operations to address any concerns. To date, GenesisCare services nationally have received a 94% customer satisfaction rating. The centre is also designed to alleviate common patient pain points, such as parking availability and ease of access, to help reduce stress and hassle.
“One of our standout services is our rapid access to treatment and initial consultations,” Dr Furniss said.
“On average, GenesisCare patients across Australia can expect to be seen within six days of referral, which means that once they receive a diagnosis, a plan and treatment can be put in place quickly so they can move forward confidently.”
GenesisCare offers ongoing patient support including access to a range of Allied health services, all tailored to support patient needs. Additionally, when treatment is finished patients can ring the onsite gong, and this can be a significant milestone to celebrate. This, in addition to adding their names to the ‘tree of life’, creates a sense of community, support and hope; not only for the outgoing patient but also for those still undergoing treatment. For local cancer patients, the new service will save an average travelling distance of 2,000 kms over the course of radiation therapy treatment. Dr Furniss explained why this was such a tangible benefit for the community.
“Radiation therapy takes multiple visits, often daily, and can be up to eight weeks for some patients,” she said.
“It’s often a time when people aren’t feeling at their best as they may have side effects from treatment or symptoms related to cancer.
“Having to travel long distances adds to the burden and there are some patients that won’t access radiotherapy because of that distance. And unfortunately, that’s a treatment that might help them, so having a centre like this close by is very important.”
When it comes to personalised cancer care, GenesisCare is dedicated to going above and beyond, offering a warm, positive and caring environment where patients can feel supported, close to home.
