The Puyallup Tribe of Indians has unveiled plans to open a new Salish Integrative Oncology Care Centre (SIOCC) in Fife, Washington, US.
The 8,200ft² cancer centre is expected to be opened in spring 2015.
Puyallup Tribe of Indians chairman Bill Sterud said: "As the first Tribal-owned Cancer Care Center in Indian Country and the United States, SIOCC will be a new, state-of-the-art Cancer Care Clinic in Fife, Washington, the heart of the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
"We believe that natural healing through traditional roots, berries, herbs and traditional healing can blend with modern oncology practices."
The new facility will include 23 infusion chairs on the first floor of the Puyallup Tribe-owned Trans Pacific building, situated at the Interstate 5 / Port of Tacoma exit.
Puyallup Tribe recruited many of the former providers of Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Centre (SCTWC) at the facility, which is based on traditional oncology with whole person integrative medicine such as naturopathy, native American treatments, acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
SIOCC is being staffed by board-certified medical oncologists and naturopathic oncologists, in addition to natural cancer care and complementary cancer care practitioners.
The facility includes chemotherapy treatment rooms that offer views of the Mount Rainier to provide peace of mind for patients, while outdoor treatment areas will be available in the spring and summer months.
SIOCC practice administrator Kim Sunner said: "Most of our allopathic community doesn’t believe in how we practice medicine with complementary care.
"However, the Puyallup Tribe, who has operated the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA) since the early 1970s, wants to build upon the established proven success record that mixes traditional and natural healing."
Image: Puyallup Tribe to open new Salish Integrative Oncology Care Centre this spring. Photo: courtesy of PRNewswire / Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
