Sonora, CA…The community is invited to a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house on Monday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at Adventist Health Sonora’s new Health Pavilion and Diana J. White Cancer Institute. Located at 900 Mono Way in Sonora, the Health Pavilion is a brand-new, 64,000-square-foot building that will offer state-of-the-art health care services close to home. The design of the Health Pavilion is filled with elements from nature to inspire a sense of well-being.

For well over a century, Adventist health care has promoted whole-person health – understanding that fresh air, sunlight, clean water, healthy foods, exercise and spiritual connections all can be used to achieve wellness and balance. These themes are found throughout the Health Pavilion, which is filled with natural light, open spaces and décor inspired by nature.

While the Health Pavilion and Diana J. White Cancer Institute grand opening events are scheduled for the end of April, the building is awaiting assessment by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Once the building is licensed by CDPH, services will open over the course of several weeks in three phases. Patients who are scheduled during the phased opening of the Health Pavilion will be notified of the location for their appointment.

Diana J. White Legacy
George and Diana White centered their lives on giving. They moved to Tuolumne County from the Bay Area in 1988, and over the years the couple worked hard, raised their blended family, saved and invested. Diana’s strong business sense enabled the couple to amass an estate worth more than $3 million. In 2015, George left their entire estate to the Cancer Institute at Adventist Health Sonora, a gift made in memory of his wife and provided the name for the Diana J. White Cancer Institute. “I am happy to make this estate gift to the hospital in her memory because I know it will help people in our community,” George said. “That would have made Diana very happy.”

A Community of Donors
The capital campaign kicked off in August 2014 and by February 2015 had raised the first $1 million. Over the course of the campaign, generous gifts from community members, patients, family members and Adventist Health Sonora staff and volunteers helped raise over $5 million to advance world-class health care for the residents of Tuolumne, Calaveras and Mariposa counties.

“This new facility enriches the services provided by Adventist Health Sonora,” says Michelle Fuentes, Adventist Health Sonora president. “The state-of-the-art imaging equipment helps keep patients close to home for routine screenings and complex diagnoses. Expanded space for outpatient rehabilitation allows us to help more people recover from injury and illness. Added capacity for primary care physicians enhances access to care across our community. And a brand-new infusion center and linear accelerator allow cancer patients in our community to receive world-class care from our compassionate oncology staff close to home. Without our community of donors, none of this would be possible.”

Services in the Health Pavilion include:
The Diana J. White Cancer Institute
Medical Oncology/Hematology: Nationally trained physician specialists at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute treat all types of cancer. They take time to get to know their patients and understand their unique needs. The care team also includes a certified oncology nurse navigator who offers guidance and advice and explains and helps coordinate appointments and treatments. A nurse case manager also supports patients, facilitating counseling and providing a link to support groups and other community resources.

Infusion Center: The Infusion Center at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute delivers advanced chemotherapy and immunotherapy in conjunction with an on-site oncology pharmacy that provides many of the same treatments found at academic medical centers. The Infusion Center includes 12 private bays featuring comfortable, heat-massaging chairs that have a view of the Sierra foothills. The chairs were selected by a group of infusion patients who voted for their favorite after “test driving” several models. A nearby nourishment bar provides beverages and light snacks. For patients receiving infusion and radiation oncology treatments on the same day, a private elevator allows patients to travel between floors in their patient gown without having to walk through public areas.

Radiation Therapy: A new, state-of-the-art linear accelerator greatly expands the ability to provide stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), one of the most advanced cancer treatments available. SBRT uses sophisticated image guidance technology to pinpoint the exact location of a three-dimensional tumor and then delivers extremely precise, intense doses of radiation that kill cancerous cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Conventional radiation therapy is typically delivered in smaller doses over several weeks. SBRT is usually given in fewer sessions, has fewer side effects, and can lead to better outcomes. For some patients, it may replace surgery as a primary cancer treatment. Adventist Health Sonora invested $2.1 million to offer the most advanced linear accelerator. Cancer patients in the community will be able to receive the type of radiation therapy normally found at large, urban medical centers while avoiding the complication and financial burden of traveling out of the area for treatment.

Outpatient Rehabilitation
An expanded outpatient rehabilitation area features a large, airy space equipped with modern cardio and strengthening equipment where patients can start getting back to daily routines after surgery, injury or illness. Double-sized treatment rooms provide privacy, especially for children and for individuals recovering from stroke or traumatic brain injury. Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy and lymphedema care. An expert team includes a certified hand therapist, a specialized pediatric therapist, a neurologic clinical therapist, and orthopedic and sports medicine specialists.

Primary Care
The primary care medical offices have a patient-centered design that ensures a coordinated approach to care. Patients can see their doctor and receive laboratory services, diagnostic imaging services and other tests all under one roof – sometimes without even leaving their exam room.

Diagnostic Imaging
The Health Pavilion houses a full spectrum of top-quality screening and diagnostic imaging services, featuring some of the latest technology available. Cutting-edge technology includes:
New 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, which can provide a clearer breast image than traditional mammography, especially in patients with dense breast tissue
A new 64-slice CT scanner, which provides ultra-detailed images of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues
PET/CT, which uses a special dye to “light up” cells and help diagnose or track conditions such as heart disease and cancer

A powerful new MRI machine that features an extra-wide opening to accommodate larger patients and help those who are claustrophobic feel more comfortable
DEXA, a bone density scan to check for osteoporosis
Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to produce images
X-ray, including fluoroscopy, which provides real-time, moving images of structures inside a patient’s body

Laboratory Services
A lab draw station is located on the second floor, adjacent to primary care. For added convenience and privacy, phlebotomists will be available to provide lab draws in patient exam rooms.

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About Adventist Health Sonora
Adventist Health Sonora is a not-for-profit 152-bed health care facility including 72 acute beds, 12 swing beds, 68 skilled nursing beds and a large network of clinics, owned and operated by Adventist Health in Roseville, California. In addition to emergency and acute care services, other Adventist Health Sonora services include advanced cardiac care, cancer center, diagnostic imaging, home health, hospice, intensive care, obstetrics, rural health, surgical services, wellness center, wound care and hyperbaric oxygen, and over 20 primary care, urgent care and specialty clinics. The Medical Center provided care for 159,498 outpatient visits, 89,983 diagnostic imaging tests, 29,107 home care visits, 31,150 emergency department visits, and 4,421 hospital discharges in 2017. Staffed by over 180 physicians, 1,490 employees, and 120 volunteers, Adventist Health Sonora is the largest private employer in Tuolumne County. For more information about the Medical Center visit www.adventisthealthsonora.org.

About Adventist Health
Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees; nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 4,350 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 20 hospitals, more than 260 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 15 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. In addition, the Adventist Health Plan serves patients in Kings County. Visit AdventistHealth.org for more information.