Atrium Health Levine Children’s is expanding its commitment to deliver oncology, hematology, and cellular therapies care to patients across the region, the United States, and the world with the recent opening of its completely reimagined outpatient center. The Torrey Hemby Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders will provide pediatric patients with access to the latest treatment options, patient programs, and medical technology.
“Offering these best-in-the-country technologies and treatment options is affirmation of our commitment that no family should ever have to leave Charlotte for oncology and hematology care, but it also solidifies Atrium Health Levine Children’s as a true destination for pediatric specialty care,” said Javier Oesterheld, MD, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Division Chief of Cancer and Blood Disorders at Levine Children’s. “In addition to the great programs and clinical trials our patients already have access to, we will now be able to make advancements in cellular therapy treatments to help even more children with immunodeficiencies and be a leading site for life-saving work, like seeking a cure for sickle cell disease.”
Javier Oesterheld, MD
Comfort and Convenience for Patients
The 20,000-square-foot space was designed with kids in mind, from nausea-reducing paint colors and lights to a play area with space to enjoy art, games, and music, as well as interactive features such as dry-erase walls and special graphics to help distract patients during treatment. Specifically, the center will feature an on-site pharmacy and 48 patient care rooms, including exam and consultation rooms, infusion bays, a procedure room, and recovery areas for postprocedure care.
Consultation rooms have virtual visit–enabled technology, allowing providers to offer consultations to patients all over the world. The infusion suite will be open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, to serve patients across all pediatric subspecialties. The procedure room and recovery areas will facilitate outpatient procedures such as bone marrow aspirates and biopsies, lumbar puncture, and a multitude of other sedated procedures.
“Bringing top, innovative care options is an important part of our commitment to help each patient survive,” said Dr. Oesterheld. “What is an added benefit of our care at Atrium Health Levine Children’s is the emphasis on programming to ensure each child thrives in a way that makes them feel like a kid. This center is home to technology that promotes the highest level of streamlined care, while also housing new, special, supportive therapies, like massage and dance, and providing play areas with fun, child-like details to create a welcoming environment, making it more than a place for clinical treatment.”
