Critical and immediate need for new Oncology-Hematology Center at Hillel Yaffe

In 2012, HYMC opened an Oncology Institute that includes outpatient therapy, a clinic and inpatient department in order to enable cancer patients to receive optimal treatment close to home. The institute has only 13 treatment stations, in an area of approximately 200 sq m. Over the years, the number of patients at the institute has grown consistently, and the space is too small for the number of patients treated there every day.

Director of the Oncology Institute at Hillel Yaffe, Dr. Valeriya Semenisty, said, “We have been seeing significant growth in the number of patients each year. The current conditions are not suitable for growth in the number of patients and make it very difficult to provide the professional and optimal treatment we know how to provide and want to provide our patients in such a difficult time in their lives. Today, the patients receive treatment in a very crowded open space, where there are no windows, and only a curtain separates patients, an environment that is inadequate and inappropriate for the patients and attending staff alike.”

Oncology Outpatient area at Hillel Yaffe - crowded, packed, with no windows

The situation is the same at the Hematology Institute. It provides a variety of treatment, including hematology-oncology therapy, generally administered on an outpatient basis. The number of people seeking treatment at the institute has grown consistently, and the number of visits exceeds 8,500 a year. The institute is very crowded and currently includes 21 treatment stations in a space of only 400 sq m.

Hematology Institute Director, Dr. Orit Sofer, said, “The current setup of the institute is very crowded. We do not have isolation rooms necessary for patients with weak immune systems. We need more examination rooms, and some of the treatments are administered in an open treatment space, where patients are only separated by a curtain. We provide multidisciplinary service given by a psychologist, social worker, dietitian and more, and right now we do not have special rooms for these private conversations with individual patients and/or their family members.”

Hematology Institute at Hillel Yaffe - no privacy for patients during treatment

Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, with the support of Friends of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, is working to establish a new spacious and modern Oncology and Hematology Center, that is suitable for growth both in the number of patients and for the wellbeing of patients and their families.

The new center will span 1,800 sq m. and will offer all the services and therapies required under a single roof. The center will provide a pleasant treatment environment that is appropriate for all medical needs, the services that go along with treatment, accessibility to patients, comfort of the accompanying family members and the medical staff.