I was a Certified Oncology Nurse in the inpatient oncology unit. It was an honor to be part of that unit where nurses were Oncology Certified and dedicated to the care of cancer patients. We taught our patients about their cancer, the treatments and side effects, gave them hope for cure, or showed them how to live with cancer as a chronic disease. We helped patients and families cope when there were no more treatments available.

KMC had an outstanding Oncology program. Our physicians were renowned for their expertise in cancer care. Dr. Haluk Tezcan was loved by his patients and set up a foundation to fund research and clinical trials for patients with breast cancer. He was the first physician in this area to do stem cell transplants using the patient’s own cells. The hospital recruited Dr. Brian Samuels for his nationally renowned work in the treatment of sarcoma.

The most important aspect of this program was the fact that the doctors, outpatient staff and inpatient staff were a team. If I called over and told the triage nurse that I needed to talk with a doctor stat, she put me right through. Doctors trusted nurses’ judgment and acted on our concerns.

In the summer of 2012, I received the news that Dr. Tezcan was leaving. What a great loss to this community! He is currently doing research in biomarker development and is contributing by guiding the industry to benefit patients. He misses clinical practice and plans to volunteer at a teaching hospital or care for underserved people. In January 2013, I learned that Kootenai Health no longer has an inpatient oncology unit. They have combined into two medical units. Inpatient cancer care is still available, but not the specialized unit. What a terrible loss for our cancer patients!

I still have former patients and family members approach me out in the community. We were a critical part of their care, and they don’t forget us. We looked forward to patients coming back to the unit just to say hi and showing us how great they are doing. In February, I heard the news that Dr. Samuels was leaving over a contract dispute. Another great loss! But wait — I picked up the paper Saturday and, lo and behold, Northwest Specialty Hospital has recruited Dr Samuels to help organize a new Oncology Department. The community won’t be losing him after all! YEA!!!

Now, Kootenai Health is a nonprofit community hospital and Northwest Specialty is a for profit facility. Many cancer patients do not have insurance. My hope is that Northwest will make allowances for this.

I have been extremely disappointed in Kootenai Health’s decisions regarding our cancer services. It was a program to be proud of and a great service to our community.

SANDRA O’BRIEN, RN OCN (retired)

Hayden