Schneider Hospital’s Cancer Center Resumes Radiation Treatment; Will Buy Three New Chillers With Grant

ST THOMAS — The senior leadership team at the Schneider Regional Medical Center announced late Friday that radiation treatments have resumed at the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute. Patients clinically due to receive radiation therapy began receiving treatments today, according to the release.

Although the treatments are typically offered Monday through Friday, radiation therapy services will be provided this Saturday to ensure patients have the opportunity to receive treatments.

SRMC said its management personnel, along with representatives from the air conditioner’s manufacturing company, have been working diligently to bring the unit back on line. A technician from the manufacturer arrived on island and has been able to get the unit functioning, the release says.

“This interim fix of the unit will allow us to serve our patients pending the arrival of the rental chiller next week,” said VP of facilities management Darryl Smalls. “We are still on schedule to receive the rental unit on Monday, November 7 and then have it up and running shortly thereafter. This rental chiller will be utilized until receipt of our new chiller.”

SRMC also revealed that it received a grant that would allow it to purchase three new chillers. “It is anticipated that by January 2017, a new chiller will be installed to replace the existing unit that has been in service for more than ten years,” Mr. Smalls continued.

Hospital CEO Dr. Bernard Wheatley stated, “Our first priority always has been and will continue to be our patients. Despite the many challenges we face working within the confines of an aging infrastructure, we continue to deliver quality patient care. We have been working round the clock to rectify this situation and I am pleased that our cancer patients have been able to resume their radiation treatments here at home.”