This is the tenth in a series of articles in partnership with AuroraToday highlighting 100 years of care and community as Southlake Regional Health Centre celebrates its centennial this year.
What does life look like for a family with a young child experiencing cancer?
On top of the immense stress and emotional turmoil, it means repeated trips to hospitals for check-ups and follow-up appointments, hours spent in waiting rooms, and even financial constraints from missing work or additional childcare. When the treatment they need isn’t readily available in their community, the burden is even greater, with more money spent on frequent travel and accommodations during long stretches of inpatient care.
This was an unfortunate reality for many families north of Toronto. But all this changed when, in 2009, Southlake opened its pediatric oncology clinic — a landmark achievement in the organization's 100-year history and a game-changer that gives families a chance to heal closer to home.
“Leading edge care means addressing the unique needs of our patients and their families, and the pediatric oncology clinic marked a pivotal step forward in that mission," shares Dr. Charmaine van Schaik, a pediatrician and Southlake’s chief of staff. “These brave families go through much, and we wanted to make this challenging journey a little easier for them by bringing quality cancer care closer to home.”
Reaching this milestone was no small feat. From securing the necessary infrastructure to recruiting the proper staffing, a lot needed to be done before the clinic could begin treating patients. Collaboration was vital in making it all happen. With funding as a satellite clinic for the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) and invaluable guidance from partners at SickKids, Southlake established formal processes and procedures and provided specialized training to staff as it prepared for the opening of the new clinic.
One of the first members recruited to the team was Lisa Egan-Bates, a pediatric oncology nurse of three decades who has worked at Southlake for the past 17 years. She recalls seeing the fruits of these efforts unfold as the clinic opened its doors.
“From the first day our clinic was open, I saw the difference it would make for our community. We were able to provide one patient with an immediate blood transfusion using all the tools and resources available to us within the clinic itself and from across the hospital, meaning they got the care they needed without ever having to go anywhere else. Seeing the impact this had on the patient and their family demonstrated why and how much this clinic was needed.”
Starting small with just 17 patients and a temporary space, the pediatric oncology clinic has grown to serve more than 90 active patients and accommodate nearly 140 monthly visits. With two additional nurses, two pediatric oncologists and support from our general pediatricians within the circle of care, the team offers patients access to world-class pediatric cancer care locally, including chemotherapy, blood work, blood transfusions and inpatient admissions.
Today, collaboration remains a crucial part of the equation, with ongoing support from the community, the hospital's health system partners and other teams such as diagnostic imaging, pharmacy and laboratory services that work together to deliver comprehensive care — all from within the walls of Southlake.
With dedicated space that includes four exam rooms, child-friendly equipment and common spaces filled with toys, books and games, the clinic is a welcoming and comforting space where patients, their parents and even siblings can feel at ease even in the most stressful circumstances. A social worker and child-life specialist on staff help Southlake go above and beyond to support families with the emotional toll that treatment can often take.
But above all, as Lisa mentions, the greatest gift that the clinic gives to families is time.
“Many patients only require a quick dose of chemo every week, but if they have to travel downtown, it becomes a day-long ordeal. Instead, with our clinic right here, they can come first thing in the morning, receive their treatment and get back to their day within 15 minutes. They don’t need to miss school, their parents don’t need to miss work and the impact on their daily lives is kept to a minimum.”
There are countless stories of young patients who received care at the Pediatric Oncology Clinic and are now thriving — including Lawrence, whose visit with Batman while celebrating the end of his treatment was recently featured in the Southlake 100 series. Over the last two months, the clinic even welcomed Sam Bennett and the Stanley Cup and hosted Premier Doug Ford and Minister Sylvia Jones to help POGO launch its new Childhood Cancer Care Plan.
Looking to the future, as the community grows, needs become more complex, and patient volumes rise, the team remains steadfast in its commitment to the region's little fighters and their families. Through the success and growth of this clinic over the past 15 years, Dr. van Schaik says there is much that can be learned as Southlake continues to evolve.
“As new programs and services are launched, we must look beyond just the clinical side of things. By taking a patient-centric approach like we did with the pediatric oncology clinic, we can continue delivering leading edge care that is compassionate and responsive to the needs of our community.”
For 100 years and counting, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading edge care with an unwavering pride for people, place and performance. To celebrate its centennial anniversary, Southlake is revisiting some of its hallmark stories and achievements over the years through the Southlake 100 series. Learn more about Southlake’s esteemed history and how they’re celebrating throughout the year at www.southlake.ca and make sure to keep an eye out for more exciting news about the next 100 years of care.
