By Richard J. Bayne
Times Herald-Record
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus is pushing a plan to create a cancer treatment center for children at the new Touro College medical school in Middletown, and Touro officials are backing the idea.
Neuhaus outlined the pediatric oncology center plan — in general terms — Friday, while speaking at a county-sponsored healthcare forum at the Newburgh SUNY Orange branch.
“I am one hundred percent convinced that this (the pediatric cancer center) could happen, and the only thing that could screw this up is the politicians,” he said.
Neuhaus talked about the “marriage” the county has developed with the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine branch at the former Horton Hospital building in Middletown, working on ways to increase healthcare availability in the county.
Touro’s provost and CEO, Jay Sexter, said the school would “welcome” the oncology program. “If the county executive thinks we can make it happen, it would be wonderful for patients and students and for the county. It would be unique in New York state,” he said.
Discussing his plans Friday at the forum, Neuhaus, who has young children, recalled how his son, as an infant, contracted an infection and was hospitalized for 10 days at Westchester Medical Center.
“How wonderful it would be to treat kids close to home so they could be close to their families and get professional care,” Neuhaus said, “and, at the same time, marry them with a medical student and give them the hands-on experience that they need.”
Sexter said the program would provide “wonderful” experience for his students. Sexter noted that pediatric oncology centers require a high staffing ratio, about two staffers for every sick child. He said the medical students would help augment the staffing ratio.
But Sexter said that right now, the pediatric oncology center is “in discussion” and “far from happening.” He said the approval process alone could easily take six months.
Photo: The former Horton Hospital in Middletown is the new home of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. Discussions are underway for bringing Orange County’s Medical Examiner’s Office to the site.