Since the Welch Cancer Center opened its doors in 2013, partnerships within the community and nearby facilities have allowed Sheridan area residents facing a cancer diagnosis to receive excellent patient-centered care close to home. Those same partnerships will now ensure patients in need of radiation treatment will receive the same high level of care while the hospital replaces an essential piece of equipment at the cancer center.
In early September, the Welch Cancer Center will decommission its existing linear accelerator (LINAC), which is used to provide external beam radiation treatment for some cancer patients. In preparation for the project, as the LINAC aged, hospital staff began planning for its replacement, aiming to create the least disruption in care possible and developing a support system for patients who would travel for their radiation treatment.
As patients with new diagnoses are referred to the Welch Cancer Center during this project, they will continue to schedule consultation and follow-up appointments in Sheridan, but will receive the radiation treatment at another facility.
For years, Sheridan Memorial Hospital has had a contract with Billings Clinic for radiation therapy staff including providers, physicists and dosimetrists to provide care in Sheridan. Currently, the team from Billings travels to Sheridan one to two days per week to see patients. This will continue throughout the time the LINAC is being replaced, and patients who travel to Billings for radiation treatment will see the same care team.
“The goal is to create continuity of care by continuing to see patients for consult and follow up in Sheridan,” said Dr. Breanne Terakedis, one of the providers from Billings Clinic who with Dr. John Schallenkamp provides care at Welch Cancer Center. “Patients will continue to see familiar faces in either location in Billings or Sheridan during their treatment schedules.”
During a patient’s initial consultation visit with the Welch Cancer Center, if radiation therapy treatment is needed, the patient will be informed of the LINAC replacement project and options to coordinate care at an outside facility. While many patients opt to receive care in Billings, the Welch Cancer Center team will work with the patient’s facility of choice to coordinate care.
The Sheridan-based care team will coordinate with each patient to determine needs based on the length of treatment required, travel preferences and more. The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation has dedicated resources to assist patients not only with care coordination, but with travel, lodging, meals and other assistance needed or desired. These resources will be offered during the initial consult to patients traveling for radiation treatment, but can be accessed by Welch Cancer Center patients at any time.
“We know any diagnosis can be difficult. Our goal is to support our community members by alleviating financial worries that arise due to travel to receive care,” said Cody Sinclair, chief development officer at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. “Our foundation has resources to ensure treatment and healing can remain the focus for our patients.”
Sinclair, who oversees the foundation, said Comfort Care funds utilized to assist patients during the LINAC project, have existed for several years. For example, in fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, nearly $10,000 helped provide transportation, mastectomy supplies, wigs and lodging for Welch Cancer Center patients.
“We have an incredibly generous community that has continuously showed a willingness to care for their neighbors, friends and family,” Sinclair said. “The ongoing ability to support individuals fighting cancer is a testament to the longstanding partnerships with neighboring medical teams and our community.”
For additional information about the LINAC replacement project or the Welch Cancer Center, call 307.674.6022 or see https://welchcancercenter.org/.