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The Stanton Territorial Hospital is in need of an area in the Hospital dedicated to chemotherapy/IV treatments. Currently, the Hospital administers chemotherapy/IV treatments in the Medical Day Care Unit.

The Medical Day Care Unit was opened in 1991, and provides services primarily for adults and includes: endoscopy procedures, cardiac diagnostics, chemotherapy and other intravenous (IV) therapies, and a few other minor procedures. The Unit is made up of seven stretchers and chairs for use when treating patients and performing procedures.

The chemotherapy and IV treatment program has seen a 200% increase in the past 10 years, with over 1,500 patient visits, in 2011-12.In order to meet the demand for chemotherapy/IV therapy services, we have reached a point where we need to develop a separate area for the service.

Chemo/IV therapy in the Medical Day Care Unit is a complex program, which includes treatment of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other diseases or conditions requiring administration of primarily intravenous (IV) medications.

Chemotherapy is medications, which are generally given intravenously for treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy may be delivered to be curative, adjunct (prevention of recurrence of cancer), or palliative (slow the growth of the cancer and therefore improve the length and quality of life). It may also be given for treatment of conditions other than cancer such as kidney disease.

Residents from the Northwest Territories, who are diagnosed with cancer, may be initially treated in Edmonton, but most patients who require chemotherapy are able to receive treatment at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. If Stanton can accommodate the patient’s needs, patients undergo chemotherapy treatment in the Medical Day Care Unit on the third floor of the Hospital.

Other IV treatments are also given in the Medical Day Care Unit as part of Stanton’s chemotherapy/IV therapy program. These treatments may control diseases so the patient has no or minimal effects from the illness. For example, patients with Crohn’s disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis receive Remicade infusion treatments.

Other IV infusions include medications given for but not limited to: renal failure, osteoporosis, and immune disorders. Procedures for hemechromatosis and other blood disorders are also completed as part of the IV treatment program.

The current chemotherapy/IV treatment space has three chemo-chairs, side-by-side, with no privacy curtains. Due to the magnitude of growth of the program over the past 20 years, the small space of the Unit often leads to situations which may compromise patient care, comfort, confidentiality, and infection control standards.

With increased therapy space, as well as updated equipment and technologies, the new suite will improve patient care, comfort, confidentiality, and infection control standards.