UPMC St. Margaret Expands Oncology Services
PITTSBURGH, PA — UPMC St. Margaret has expanded its oncology services by opening a 3,200-square-foot addition to enhance and streamline cancer treatment for local residents.
The state-of-the-art expansion, which opened the first week of January, includes a new linear accelerator and CT simulator. The newly installed linear accelerator can target cancer more accurately while reducing the effects on the surrounding healthy tissues. The CT simulator provides high-quality images for precise treatment planning. This cutting edge technology optimizes patient care by determining the exact location and size of the area to be treated. UPMC St. Margaret's Radiation Oncology services provide access to some of the most advanced radiation delivery systems and techniques, as well as the most technologically advanced imaging services.
UPMC St. Margaret has continued to upgrade and expand its services since experiencing double-digit growth in admissions and surgeries over the past six years. In fiscal years 2005-09, the number of patient treatments per day in UPMC St. Margaret's Radiation Oncology program has increased 15 percent.
The $5.7 million addition, connected to the main hospital building, will help support the work of the hospital's Lung and Thoracic Diseases program. The program's multidisciplinary approach to cancer care includes pulmonary medicine specialists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists working together to provide personalized care plans for each patient. By implementing this team approach, each patient receives comprehensive, high-quality care and treatment.