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Ribbon Cutting Held for Mercy Health – O’Brien Cancer Center
Mercy Health – Lorain held a ribbon cutting last week to celebrate a new name and new look for its cancer center, located at 41201 Schaden Road in Elyria.
The facility will now be known as the Mercy Health – O’Brien Cancer Center in honor of Lorain native Stacey O’Brien Artino. The 49-year-old died from complications of her own diagnosis of cancer in December 2021, and her family decided to make a donation to the health system’s cancer center in her honor.
Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien
“The O’Brien family has been involved in many charitable and philanthropic endeavors for decades, and their generosity has made such a difference in the lives of so many people close to home. One of Stacey’s passions was making rosaries and helping the poor, so it seems fitting that her legacy will live on to help so many with the challenges of cancer,” explained Scott Pember, president of Mercy Health Foundation Lorain. “Through this transformational gift, Mercy Health will be able to further our mission by providing state-of-the-art care for everyone who entrusts us with their healthcare needs.”
Last year, Mercy Health – Lorain provided approximately $25 million in community benefit to those in need, meaning those who were unable to pay for their care still received the treatment they needed. The Cancer Center has undergone a major renovation over the past several months, with Mercy Health investing millions in new technology, a new outward appearance, and many new resources for patients, all in an effort to elevate patient care.
“Daily cancer treatments can take a toll on patients and their families, so we want to lessen that burden any way we can – in this case providing advanced cancer care in a comfortable setting that’s close to home so patients can stay in their own communities while getting the life-saving treatments they need,” said Dr. David Barron, Medical Director, Oncology Service Line and Radiation Oncology.
Mercy Health has been making ongoing improvements to the Cancer Center over the past three years including the addition of a new linear accelerator in 2023 and ongoing updates to the facility’s exterior. The most recent renovation will see the facility’s first façade updates since opening in 2002. The wood siding on the building has been replaced with a metal façade that has a wood grain appearance.
“We know nature and natural appearing elements help create a more healing environment for our patients. Research has demonstrated that a connection to nature increases mindfulness, enhances positive emotions, promotes healing, and has an ability to calm people both physically and emotionally,” said Ben Kosewski, director, Oncology Service Line at Mercy Health – Lorain and Youngstown.
Mercy Health – Lorain’s cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC), a recognition it’s held since 1991. It recognizes Mercy Health – Lorain’s delivery of high-quality, innovative patient care through its various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care, including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease and end-of-life care.
When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they are provided access to information on clinical trials or new treatments, genetic counseling and patient centered services, including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process and a survivorship care plan that records the care each patient receives and seeks to improve a survivors’ quality of life.
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC has also granted accredited status to the Mercy Health – Lorain Breast Cancer Program, confirming patients can be confident that they’re receiving comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services, a multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options, and information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.
To learn more about Mercy Health’s cancer care and oncology services, call 440-324-0400 or visit mercy.com.
