Patients from across central and northern Michigan will benefit from increased access after a $3 million pharmacy expansion at the Corewell Health™, formerly Spectrum Health, Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center in Reed City.

 

The expansion is part of a larger $14.9 million project that will renovate all hazardous compounding spaces in Corewell Health facilities across West Michigan. The addition of a second chemotherapy hood along with an additional exam room will support meeting the growing needs of the 35 to 50 patients who visit the cancer center each day for chemotherapy and other infusion therapy.

“The expansion improves services available for patients in our communities,” said cancer
center operations manager Samantha Triplett. “This allows improved patient access for
outpatient services to keep people out of emergency rooms and hospitals.”

In addition to chemotherapy, the pharmacy supports treatment of outpatient immunotherapy
infusions, iron infusion and hydration for obstetric or post-surgical patients. The pharmacy expansion includes new redundant air handling equipment for team members’ safety, new compounding hoods, a separate HVAC system and more space for team members
and other equipment.

“The expansion gives us more space for better organization of supplies, improved equipment
and allows for growth in the future, both for patient care, more medication supplies on hand, as
well as possible increased staffing in the future,” Triplett said.

The center’s old pharmacy space is being renovated into a new clinical space and one exam
room to meet patient demand.

“We have patients that come from all over Michigan, including the upper peninsula, to receive
treatment at our facility,” Triplett said. “We serve such a wide range of communities. It’s
amazing how many patients make the drive to our location.”