Kollmorgen said . Instead of multiple visits to multiple specialists in multiple cities , the tumor board can review tests , x-rays , CAT scans and treatment options in one meeting .
“
We ’ re able to have this geographic area where we have all these specialties in different locations … we can kind of virtually build our cancer center without walls , so to say , and that ’ s kind of the vision I have here ... ˮ
The more that can be done for the patient closer to home and their support network — before sending them to specialists in another city , if necessary — the better , Kollmorgen said .
The tumor board , while perhaps common among large hospitals , is unique among smaller rural hospitals , Kollmorgen said . It ’ s so unique that the University of Iowa is following its progress as something that could possibly be adopted by other rural hospitals . As a smaller , rural hospital , MHP doesn ’ t have all of the resources for cancer treatment under its roof , but can leverage the resources available regionally . MHP doesn ’ t have a radiation facility , but Ottumwa Regional Health Center does , and they ’ re part of the tumor board , Kollmorgen said . MHP doesn ’ t have its own chemotherapy center , but a traveling team from Mission Cancer + Blood sets one up at MHP once a week ( twice a week starting in September ).
“ I think the overall thought is we don ’ t need to reinvent the wheel just here , so the idea is can we have kind of a regional cancer center , Kollmorgen said . “ We ’ re able to have this geographic area where we have all these specialties in different locations … we can kind of virtually build our cancer center without walls , so to say , and that ’ s kind of the vision I have here , how do we build that for southeast Iowa ?”
That vision helped MHP secure a Centers of Excellence grant from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services . That money was used to dedicate three nurses to the cancer program as cancer care coordinators , and to build out the hospital ’ s digital infrastructure to be able to transmit and receive complex medical images securely , Kollmorgen said .
The cancer care coordinators are tasked with helping patients to not only navigate the maze of cancer treatment , but to help them cope with all that comes with it . That could be coordinating the patients ’
DR . DANIEL KOLLMORGEN
various appointments , making sure they have transportation to get to those appointments or just calls to check on them and making sure they have the support they need .
“ It ’ s an emotional roller coaster for these people ,” said Jessica Strasser , a licensed practical nurse and one of the cancer care coordinators at MHP . “ And just to have someone call and check in … making sure they have everything they need … just someone who checks in with them , is very important .”
“ It just takes one or two things off of their plate that they don ’ t have to worry about ,” said Brenda Lopez , another LPN and cancer care coordinator .
For Powless , the program at MHP is just what he needed . When he first met his surgeon , Dr . Tim Breon , he already had all Powless ’ scans and colonoscopy results . They scheduled Powless for surgery to remove a section of his colon the following week .
On the day of his surgery , while Powless was waiting in pre-op , the CEO of MHP visited him and his family , Powless said . They prayed together . Then Dr . Breon brought his surgical team to meet Powless and his family . They also prayed together . When Powless awoke after surgery , Dr . Breon was there .
Now , Powless comes to MHP every two weeks for chemotherapy . Throughout it all , his blood pressure has remained normal .
“ I just felt at ease with the whole thing ,” Powless said .
“ I ’ m thankful that my doctor told me about it . I ’ m thankful for everyone one of the people that I ’ ve met here that come in for treatment like me ,” he added . “ I can see how much easier it is for them to do this here than it would be other places , and that ’ s a huge part of it .”
26 SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE 2024