Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is pleased to announce the completion of a renovation project that improves safety in handling chemotherapy drugs and ensures the sustainable provision of cancer care in the Muskoka region.
Last fall, work commenced to improve the chemotherapy preparation area at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) Site by adding a new biological safety cabinet exclusively for mixing chemotherapy drugs. The project involved creating a dedicated, purpose-built room to meet the rigorous safety standards associated with chemotherapy preparation, which is essential to the safety of staff and patients receiving chemotherapy drugs.
“Part of our ongoing commitment to high-quality care is ensuring we protect cancer patients from preventable infections by preparing chemotherapy in a sterile space that is separate from other pharmacy drug mixing,” says Natalie Bubela, Chief Executive Officer. “It’s because of the highly toxic nature of chemotherapy drugs and the fact that cancer patients can be at risk of infection that safety standards in chemotherapy preparation are so strict. These standards have evolved and become more stringent, requiring complex air ventilation and a specialty fume hood system separate from the main Pharmacy space, and the main airflow for the hospital.”
A biological safety cabinet is also designed to limit exposure to chemotherapy for Pharmacy Technicians who use specialized techniques to minimize risks when working with these products daily. It also pumps filtered sterile air into the space, so the chemotherapy is prepared in a sterile environment, preventing contamination of the medication with bacteria or viruses.
HDMH Chemo Prep Auxiliary
The renovation and new biological safety cabinet was funded through the financial support of the District of Muskoka’s Hospital Capital Fund and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation through two key donors that made this half-a-million-dollar project possible. Last year, local residents Chris and George Gilley made a very generous donation of $250,000 toward the project. George and Chris wanted to pay their good fortune back to the Huntsville hospital. As well, in the final stages of the project, the TD Bank Group answered the Foundation’s call by making a $50,000 donation to contribute to this long-lasting innovation.
As well, the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary graciously donated a special fridge and freezer, temperature monitors, a stainless steel cart, and a specialized chair.
“It was delightful to celebrate this huge accomplishment with our donors,” says Katherine Craine, Executive Director of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. “This project would not have happened without their generous donations and to see the results is just so rewarding for all involved!”
More than 1,300 doses of chemotherapy will be prepared annually in Huntsville where chemotherapy is administered to cancer patients closer to home as part of a satellite program of the Northeast Cancer Centre and the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Program. Across MAHC’s two sites, MAHC is proud to provide care for more than 3,000 cancer-related visits each year.
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Many thanks to everyone involved. It is great to know we have such a tremendously caring group of neighbours in our community.
I hope they never have the need to use the much needed facilities.