CyberKnife® Has Arrived
At Capital Health System
New Technology Provides The Latest For Treatment Of Tumors And Lesions
Trenton, NJ -There's one sentence that nobody wants to hear from his or her health care provider.
"There's nothing more we can do."
Since diagnostic tests have allowed physicians to detect tumors and lesions, too many patients have heard this. Now there's new technology that's stretching the boundaries of non-invasive procedures … and it's happening at Capital Health System (CHS).
Starting next month, CHS is offering CyberKnife® Radiosurgery System, the world's most accurate radiosurgery device that allows physicians to treat tumors and lesions anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy. Used as a noninvasive alternative to conventional surgery in cancer patients as well as other medical conditions, CyberKnife® ensures the most accurate targeting of tumors, allowing for less trauma to healthy tissue and quicker recovery time for patients.
The CyberKnife® Center at CHS is the only hospital in Central New Jersey and the closest center east of Havertown, Pa. to offer this technological breakthrough.
"Our promise to the community is to provide the most state-of-the-art treatments and make the latest medical technologies available to any and all residents in our region," said Al Maghazehe, PhD, President and CEO of Capital Health System.
Equally as impressive as the technology is the physician leading the CyberKnife® Center at CHS. John D. Lipani, MD, PhD and Medical Director of Neurosciences is the only fellowship trained CyberKnife® neurosurgeon in the United States.
"Prior to his arrival at Capital Health System, Dr. Lipani served as a clinical instructor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University Medical Center, where he received extensive training in CyberKnife® Radiosurgery under world-class CyberKnife® expert, John R. Adler, MD, inventor of the CyberKnife," said Mark Pressman, MD, President of the Medical Staff at CHS and a board certified orthopaedic surgeon.
"We are honored to add a physician of Dr. Lipani's extensive clinical and educational background to help guide our already accomplished medical staff of Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, and Radiation Oncologists in the implementation of this new technology. His hands-on expertise in CyberKnife® Radiosurgery will provide the most experienced knowledge available for this major medical breakthrough."
"From the addition of the CyberKnife® Center to the first onsite PET scanner in Mercer County, we're proud to add to our commitment of staying on the 'cutting edge' of medical technology. Its arrival lets residents from around the region know that Capital Health System is delivering technology that will allow doctors to save more lives each year, while dramatically reducing the length and medical risk of treatments for hundreds of others. And all of this is happening right in their own backyard."
The arrival of the CyberKnife® Center also adds to the already long list of clinical services available to residents in and around Mercer County only at Capital Health System.
"CHS has twice received the Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service, and most recently received the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons for its Regional Cancer Center," said Linda Dite, Vice President of Clinical Services at CHS. "CHS continues to provide the region's only Level II Trauma Center, Perinatal Center (which includes our nationally recognized Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), Mobile Intensive Care Unit Provider and Mercer County's only Emergency Psychiatric Screening Center.
"As an organization that also offered the first certified Sleep Center in Mercer County and was the first to collaborate traditional and complementary medicine through its Integral Medicine program, Capital Health System prides itself on being the regional leader when it comes to clinical services. The new CyberKnife® Center is a welcome addition to our list of innovative services offered to residents in and around Mercer County," said Ms. Dite.
The 2,000-sq.-ft. CyberKnife® suite is close to completion as Capital Health System adds to its state-of-the-art technology giving new hope to thousands of people with tumors and lesions once considered inoperable.
This advanced medical technology suite required complex coordination between architects, engineers, equipment vendors, and healthcare facility managers. Power, lighting, ventilation, and shielding were coordinated to ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment.
In addition to the treatment room, there is a control room, an equipment room, and areas for clinical and support staff.
CyberKnife® radiosurgery takes treatment of benign and malignant masses to a new level. With high-tech computer-controlled robotics, CyberKnife® delivers precisely targeted radiation to tumors.
Extraordinarily accurate, the radiation beams can be sculpted to reach small, deeply imbedded, complex masses minimizing damage to healthy tissue when compared to other types of radiation therapy. This remarkable capability provides unparalleled access to previously unreachable and untreatable tumors throughout the body when radiation therapy is indicated.
Capital Health System is only the third hospital in New Jersey to offer this breakthrough CyberKnife® treatment. None yet exists in the metro area of New York City or Philadelphia.