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Pahrump cancer patients will soon have a local treatment center to patronize instead of having to make the long trip to Las Vegas.
The opening of the new center is the result of a local womans struggle with cancer and a doctor who recognized a tremendous need for a treatment center closer to home.
The idea stems from a conversation between Dr. Raja S. Mehdi and one of his patients in early January. Cheryle Jordan, known as Sherri by those close to her, was finishing up her first round of chemotherapy treatment as her husband, Jack, sat anxiously next to her, making repeated glances from his watch to the bad weather outside.
With about 30 minutes left, Jack expressed his concern about driving across the Spring Mountain Pass on their way home to Pahrump during the storm, telling the doctor it would take them a little more than an hour and Cheryle usually gets nauseous going through the mountains.
In an attempt to ease Jacks anxiety and better the quality of life for his patient, Sherri, Dr. Mehdi asked if the couple would prefer that he transfer their care to a facility in Pahrump. It was then the doctor discovered there were no cancer services available here, and his office was the closest option available to the couple.
In a town the size of Pahrump, the doctor said he was astonished to find there were no such services available. "I promised my patients that I would bring this care to Pahrump," Mehdi said. "And I had to fulfill that promise."
Unfortunately, Cheryle lost her fight with cancer on Jan. 11, at the age of 54. She passed away quietly at her home in Pahrump, while her husband of 31 years held her hand.
"Cheryle may have lost her battle to cancer after bravely fighting it for over a year, but she will never be forgotten because she left her community, her people, with a very special gift - a specialty cancer center close to home," said Mehdi.
The doctor said Cheryle was his very first patient at the Hope Cancer Care of Nevada facilities in Las Vegas and he was so inspired by her that not only did it influence him to open the Pahrump facility right away, but also, with Jacks permission, he has decided to give the name "Cheryles Pavilion" to Pahrumps chemotherapy infusion room.
The new facility opens April 4 in suite 7 of the complex at 2340 E. Calvada Blvd.
Although the site does not appear to be prepared for opening, the doctor asserts that everything will be ready on time. Dr. Mehdi explained that since Hope Cancer Care of Nevada is not a mega corporation, they will not be building a new facility just yet; however, there is the possibility of a new facility being built here in Pahrump if the need arises.
Starting out, the new facility will be open on Mondays only and as time goes by the doctor expects to expand that to twice a week, and eventually full time. As a small entity, he and his tight-knit staff will travel together to Pahrump, but the doctor says that further expansion of the staff will be hired from the Pahrump area.
"We wish to have new employees and team members from the community in the near future," he said.
He also emphasized that if the need arises he will partner with another physician or nurse practitioner.
Mehdis wife, Ayesha, is a University of Kansas School of Law alumna and teaches health care law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She decided to flex her interior decorating skills at the facility in Las Vegas and the doctor says that the look of the Pahrump facility will mirror that of the original office.
Hope Cancer Care of Nevada Pahrump facilities will feature six chemotherapy chairs, which can accommodate about 10-12 patients a day, says the doctor.
Mehdi is a board-certified medical oncologist. He concluded his residency in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, St. Vincent Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was appointed chief resident. He is also board-certified in internal medicine and is a medical graduate of the prestigious Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. He later completed his fellowship in oncology at the Providence Cancer Institute, in partnership with the University of Michigan.
Mehdi is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He practiced for over five years at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Francis Hospital, in Topeka, Kan.
Source:
http://pvtimes.com/news/cancer-center-inspired-by-pahrump-patient-set-to-open/
Comments
Jack Jordan says:
Sherri thought the world of Dr. Mehdi. Even though Sherri lost her life I am sure Dr, Mehdi did every thing possibly to try to save her. I have never seen a more dedicated or compassionate doctor in my life. When he had to tell Sherri and myself that he had done all he could for her and he would not be giving her any more Chemo, the three of us just set there and looked at each other and the tears streamed down our cheeks. That is the first time I have ever seen a Doctor cry.
The three of us had a fantastic relationship throughout the whole year of treatment
I an just thankful others no longer will have to go through what we did, The treatment is bad enough with out the turmoil of the drive.
Even tho he was unable to save her life I am sure Dr. Mehdi will try as hard to do for others as he tried for Sherri and with the right advanced medicine provided to him, he will be able to accomplish it and CURE them. Thanks to Dr Mehdi Sherris wishes will be fulfilled.
In December, 2009, Dr. Mehdi and his wife, Ayesha, moved to Vegas in the hopes of making their dream a reality. They envisioned a state of the art cancer center that would redefine quality care for the community. To celebrate their humble attempt that honors the memory of Dr. Mehdis father, and could not have been possible without the support of our patients and partners, we invited all those who have been a part of our amazing journey to our opening celebration on October 1, 2010.
The ceremony held a lot of meaning for the entire team at Hope Cancer Care of Nevada, and we were really honored and delighted that the turn out was fantastic. Vegass celebrated chefs vowed to impress our guests. Singing Chef La Vigna replenished us with his singing and his hors doeuvres, Chef Woo concocted a fusion menu, & Elements Kitchen indulged us with their famous desserts. The music was a big hit and was provided by DJ Nick and his dhol maestro, of Legacy Events. Amazon Events did a very impressive job with the decor which recreated the Speakeasy clubs that became famous during the Prohibition era (1920s) and the theme was, of course, Vegas, Baby! Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy the pictures!
Ceremony Photographs
Your Team at Hope Cancer Care of Nevada
They rate various components such as bedside manner, doctor-patient face time, degree of follow-up, courtesy of office staff, and overall opinions. Of the nations 720,000 active physicians, less then 5 % were accorded this honor by their patients in 2009.
Hope Cancer Care of Nevada Endorses MedSyms HemOncProEHR & HemOncProPM Solutions for Oncology & Hematology Practice.
Agreement makes EMRs more affordable and accessible to small practices.
Birmingham, AL - October 1, 2009 (Business Wire) - MedSym today
announced that Hope Cancer Care of Nevada, a Las Vegas oncology
and hematology practice, signed an agreement endorsing MedSyms
solution as an electronic health record (EHR) system of choice for the
new practice. Under the agreement, Hope Cancer Care purchased the
HemOncProEHR and HemOncProPM software for the practices clinic
and administrative staff with the objective of implementing enabling
technologies that support enhanced patient care and administrative
efficiency.
"We selected MedSyms HemOncPro solution because its capabilities were superior and more intuitive to use than other EHR products we evaluated," said Raja Mehdi, MD. "We wanted to assure high levels of quality of care and operational efficiency, but found that most small practices can’t afford EHR systems. The MedSym team structured a total solution that was an exceptional value. The agreement made the integrated PM and EHR more accessible and affordable. The adoption of technology is critical to streamlining information flow within the complex oncology patient care setting."
According to Preston James, Executive Vice President of MedSym, "We are very pleased to support Hope Cancer Care to realize their clinical innovation and business goals. The MedSym agreement, in addition to software, will provide specifically trained and well-experienced oncology billing staff and revenue cycle management services for Hope Cancer Care. The combination of oncology specific software and the MedSym billing staff will support unique opportunities for cost savings and claims management. This agreement is the ideal combination of technology and services that will deliver exceptional value to physicians, patients and MedSym."
MedSym has delivered high quality oncology/hematology billing and claims management, Aged AR Recovery and Drug Reimbursement Recovery services to over 1,100 physicians nationally. Dr. Mehdi asserts that "the unique technology and services experience of MedSym to the complex requirements of practicing oncology and hematology supported my decision to partner with MedSym."
