Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Oncology Unit staff celebrate the unit’s reopening on Dec. 5, 2016.

WAILUKU – Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) has officially reopened its Oncology Unit after 16 months of construction. The clinic was blessed at the start of December and started seeing patients on Monday, Dec. 12.

The updated unit now features more space and privacy for patients during their visits. Each patient has a private bay with a television, call light and privacy curtains. The new unit also has two nursing stations and two large wheelchair-accessible patient bathrooms.

MMMC’s Oncology Unit provides comprehensive medical care to people with cancer, blood disorders and autoimmune diseases. It provides a variety of infusions and injections for cancer and non-cancer-related conditions. It serves an average of 20 to 30 patients per day.

“Our upgraded clinic helps us better serve Maui County residents who need a specialized treatment plan with a desire to be treated on Maui, close to family,” said Jennifer Omuro, Oncology Unit manager. “The treatment and healing processes are always more successful when patients can be treated near loved ones rather than traveling off-island or out of state.”

The Oncology Medical Team includes specially trained nurses and a collaborative team. They work closely with community medical-oncologists and radiation oncologists, primary care physicians and other specialty physicians to create a comprehensive plan of care.

The unit is led by Oncologist Dr. Ted Keyes and staffed by seven registered nurses, two clerks, a nurse manager, nursing assistant, transporter and tumor registrar. It operates full-time, five days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Patients or others with questions can call (808) 242-2518.