John McNeil: Good morning!
Crowd: Good morning.
John McNeil: My name is John McNeil. I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Regional Medical Center – the newest member of the great and growing family of Cancer Treatment Centers of America facilities.
[Applause]
All of this is to say that we pledge ourselves to a higher standard - a standard that we call the ‘Mother Standard’, treating every patient with the love, compassion, the quality of care and the dignity that we would want for our own mothers, and if there ever was an example of the ‘Mother Standard’ and what it means to us and of setting an ever higher standard. It’s in the life of Lynette Bisconti, a person I am very proud to know.
Before she came to CTCA every doctor said her breast cancer would endanger her unborn child but she refused their advice to terminate her pregnancy and instead made a promise that if her baby would hold on – so would she.
Lynette Bisconti: As I was hoping and fighting to become a mother myself I found a facility whose entire approach to my care was to treat me as though I was a family member - a mother, but in my case - a mother-to-be.
The ‘Mother Standard’ is more than just receiving a needed smile, a hug or words of encouragement, it’s also practicing true integrative medicine that combines the best conventional treatments with responsible alternative and complimentary therapies. It takes care of the whole person – that made sense to me.
Twelve weeks after completing chemo I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy named Frank. We call him Frankie. In other words, CTCA’s use of the ‘Mother Standard’ of care meant everything to me and it meant everything to Frankie, our survival and our quality of life.
The ‘Mother Standard’ philosophy is transforming the way we view health care. In my opinion it is the way health care should be. CTCA is creating entire group of people who now demand this kind of care wherever we go, and believe me when I tell you, we tell everybody we find about this type of care.
I believe that as patients we strengthen our chances be being active participants; by doing our homework and certainly by making our own decisions. My wish is that my story will inspire hope and empowerment in others. Like Frankie, I am grateful for CTCA’s commitment to the ‘Mother Standard’ of care. Even along with so many of your stories inspires me and empowers me.
I’d like to ask all of the CTCA Eastern Regional Medical Center employees to come up and stand here in front of the podium for a special ceremony. Today, I’d like to give these flowers to a loved one, a caregiver, a CTCA staff member or anyone who has shown you the ‘Mother Standard’ throughout your journey with cancer, and I am going to do the same.
[Applause]
Phil Olson: The ‘Mother Standard’ of care – I didn’t find it at any other hospital I checked on prior to coming to Eastern Regional Medical Center. I can say unequivocally it was the best decision that I made to receive the best possible treatment that I or anyone else could be blessed to receive, and I can’t stop telling people about CTCA.
John McNeil: Ladies and Gentlemen, escorted by our Vice-Chairman Bob Mayo, the honorable senator Christine Tartaglione:
[Applause]
Christine Tartaglione: Cancer Treatment Centers of America is celebrating opening of its first east coast hospital which is located in northeast Philadelphia with a dedication ceremony on April 27, 2006.
Mr. Richard J. Stephenson: We couldn’t be more blessed in our judgement to have the careful attention to our needs expressed by you and on every occasion whenever we held up our hand saying, “What would you do if you were in our shoes trying to change the face of cancer now?” Thank you Senator Tartaglione. We are blessed.
John McNeil: Nancy Brinker has dedicated her life to empowering patients and to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
[Applause]
Nancy G. Brinker: I commend CTCA for recognizing that today’s patients don’t want to be informed about their doctor’s decision; they want to be part of the decision. They don’t want to be given instructions; they want to be given collaboration. They don’t want to be processed like a consumer; they want to be treated as an individual, and even today, some still doubt the value of complementary treatments – the connection between body and mind, but here at Eastern Regional led by Reverend Berry, you not only administer treatments, you administer to the soul.
Let us pledge to our mothers, to all the patients – we will never leave you, wherever you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge, and let nothing – nothing ever separate us from those we love. I cannot possibly think of a higher standard of care and I cannot thank you enough. It’s a real honor joining you today.
Mr. Richard J. Stephenson: Well, we are gathered here today to dedicate more than a new hospital. You’ve heard that said and it’s a truth – we’ve come together to dedicated a new home in Philadelphia – a new home of hope and healing. Today is a renewal of the spirit. Indeed the amazing facility reflects our guiding philosophy at CTCA. It’s totally and always about you. It was designed around what you told us you wanted and it is entirely build on the precept that you know best. It is for you – as you want it; when you want it.
Well, Eastern Regional Medical Center is the most integrative, the most innovative, the most advanced and the most patient-focused center that’s ever existed in this region of the country and we couldn’t be more pleased than to join you – our patients, and your loving caregivers, to welcome you to this new home of hope and healing.
Our family was devastated of course - first, by the diagnosis. Second, by the dismal, impersonal, non-empowering treatment she received, and then by her passing. And so we resolved to celebrate her life by dedicating our lives to raising up, not yet, raising up the standard of cancer care to a place where the needs of the patient always and forever come first, and as we call this new higher standard of care – the ‘Mother Standard’, reflecting our abiding commitment to treating every patient with the same love and compassion we would want for our own mothers.
AT CTCA the ‘Mother Standard’ is not a buzzword, it’s not a marketing slogan – it’s about my mother, don’t forget. This is not marketing. This is the real deal. This is the real deal. It is the very definition of who we are, the very definition of who we are, and so today, on this 27th day of April 2006 and in the name of our courageous patients to whom we vow like one whom his mother comes first, so well we comfort you.
Here we raise up the standard of cancer care to heights this region has never seen. We will raise up the expectations of patients who for too long, have waited for the dignity, love and compassion, we would all want indeed exist for our own mother and we pledge with all our heart and soul to raise up our expectations of ourselves so that in every way, every day, every moment spent within the walls is a spectacular commitment to – you could imagine it – kicking tires, lighting fires and getting on down the road in a celebration of life as we win the fight against cancer every day. Let’s raise it up. God bless you all!
[Applause]
[Music]