Not to be a bummer and mention cancer, but I was glad to read a new radiation oncology program will be started at Banner. Updated equipment is extremely important for radiation oncology treatments. The latest technology helps decrease some of the side effects by controlling the beams to coordinate with the movement of organs during breathing (to explain it simply) and other specifics. I hope the partnership with MD Anderson will bring that. No one wants it, but if you need treatment its good to know its there. Always research the type of machine that will be used. Newer machines are very expensive and only top volume providers can continue to buy new ones as they are introduced. FYI, the title should say new cancer program because I don't think they are building anything new.
It should come as no surprise this new cancer treatment center would come to Sun City. Anyone who has followed the history of the community knows that medical care has been a pressing issue since the day we opened. Sun City was literally in the middle of nowhere and hospitals and doctors were far removed from the equation. It didn't take the DEVCO folks to come to grips with the importance of solving that problem. Kitty-corner from the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum is an aging and mostly empty building; I think it's called the Sun City Medical Center, or something akin to that. It's directly under the radio tower that used to serve Sun City. There's a couple of good stories about the drama that came from those first years in Jubilee (Sun City's 25th anniversary book). By the late 60's, it was clear Sun City had arrived and they elected to move across the railroad tracks North of Grand Ave. Their initial thoughts were to construct a 100 bed facility. Jim Boswell (Webb's partner in DEVCO), foresaw the importance of quality medical care and made an offer that was a game changer. His foundation donated 1.2 million dollars on 3 conditions: The name would be the Walter O Boswell Memorial Hospital; it would be open to the entire west valley, and it would have best equipment available. When the hospital opened, Sun City exploded; with sales topping all expectations. Phase 2 and phase 3 sold out in a short 8 years and there's little question the hospital was one of the reasons. It had become a place Sun City residents loved to volunteer at; many of the people living here had donated to help build it (just under a million dollars) and nearly everyone took up space in one of their rooms sooner or later. Just as a footnote, it was bought a few years back by Banner Medical Centers. But alas, enough of the history. Anyone interested in Sun City should take note of the treatment center story C posted and what is happening around the community. We all know there's plenty of empty retail space. In the past 2 years, there's been an epiphany as the medical companies have come to understand why Sun City is the perfect target market. They've begun buying that retail space and redeveloping it to fit their needs as well as the community's. On 99th and Thunderbird a portion of the shopping center was gutted to house new medical offices. They also added a building and gave the rest of the center a new look. On Del Webb Blvd the La Ronde Center is in the process of becoming a medical complex owned by Barnett Delaney. Work is underway as they are giving that center a complete face lift. There's little question in my mind this trend will continue. For anyone doubting it, they only need look at the Del Webb Boomers Survey from 2010. It's an interesting read and the summary pretty well says it all: Among both the 50 and 64 year-old Boomers, “cost of living "and “healthcare "were the MOST important considerations in selecting a retirement location. For Del Webb residents, the key drivers were healthcare, amenities "and cost of living. Fascinating to see the top three in Webb communities were: healthcare, amenities and cost of living...really not any different from those folks looking to move to Sun City back in the 60's eh?
Another good item I just read about Banner Boswell they bought the latest robot. The robot is an improvement in minimally invasive surgery because its hand that has the ability to bend and twist like a wrist. Plus the surgeon views the field in 3D. The traditional laparoscope can't do that and so it takes a surgeon longer to learn to use it. Because of that fewer surgeons use it and continue to use open surgery (vs minimal) when minimal would work, although minimal is not possible with every surgery. The robot is quicker to learn to use and in time will likely replace the laproscope in facilitates that can afford them. Minimally invasive surgery can mean fewer days in the hospital and less pain.
