Cancer care center reopens with many of its services

The Dorwart Cancer Care Center reopened on Monday for the first time since the Sept. 9 storm, which caused flooding damage and knocked out power.

Patient care services were temporarily moved to the Memorial Health Center.

“It definitely helped out. Moving treatment was better than not receiving any at all,” Regional West Director of Cancer Services, Jeff Kriewald said.

Carpet and dry wall had to be replaced in the cancer care center. After thorough inspection of the outpatient area of the building to make sure there were no contaminants that could compromise patients’ immune systems, it was approved to reopen.

“We’re still in the midst of repairs and some areas are still in containment,” Kriewald explained.

The area that contains the linear accelerator is still closed for repairs, so patients in need of radiation will need to continue to make the hour and a half drive to Scottsbluff to receive treatment.

“The repairs for the room with the linear accelerator are the same on a different scale,” Kriewald stated.

The radiation equipment is so important to cancer treatment that extra precautions need to be taken before ensuring that it is in proper working condition.