MANSFIELD — Kelley Caporini was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2015.
As a wife, mother of four, and the sixth grade math teacher at Ontario Middle School, she knew that her cancer care needed to be second-to-none, but she also wanted to stay close to her family.
She found what she was looking for at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital — comprehensive cancer care and convenience without compromise.
“Being close to home allowed me to not have to travel an hour and a half,” Caporini says, “and if there had been an emergency, my doctor is right there. It gave me peace of mind.”
Caporini’s oncologist is Dr. Srividya Viswanathan, of OhioHealth Cancer Physicians.
“Kelley had cancer surgery followed by chemotherapy, which required OhioHealth’s multidisciplinary approach,” Viswanathan says.
She shared that Caporini required very close follow-up with Mansfield Hospital’s dedicated infusion center team to prevent any complications.
“Kelley was not treated only for her condition, we also focused on treating her as a person. She was never fighting by herself.”
Cancer care at OhioHealth is collaborative — a partnership of experts in cancer surgery, medical and radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, palliative care, hospice, nursing, navigation, research, genetic counseling and survivorship. OhioHealth’s team approaches each patient’s unique cancer experience with compassion, paying special attention to quality-of-life concerns, wellness, spiritual and emotional care.
That’s because they’re more then patients, they’re neighbors. Dr. Viswanathan says she and many of her fellow patient-care associates are residents of the Mansfield area themselves, which strengthens their connection with patients. It made all the difference to Caporini.
“From the admitting people to the nurses to … well, I could go on and on. Every single nurse and volunteer was phenomenal.”
Patti Kastelic, director of cancer services at Mansfield Hospital, remembers Caporini well.
“From the beginning, she had a positive perspective of her care and treatment. Kelley was inspiring to other patients and the staff.”
Kastelic is also a resident of the Mansfield area, and takes pride in both OhioHealth and her local connection.
“I practice at Mansfield Hospital because this is my home and my community. Being a part of the OhioHealth system gives me confidence in the quality of care, the compassion and scope of treatment we can provide to our patients with cancer.”
Viswanathan notes the facility provides comprehensive cancer care under one roof.
“It’s a care model that is challenging for other health systems to replicate in places like Mansfield.”
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital is able to accomplish this when other area hospitals cannot because OhioHealth is a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center. MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked the top cancer hospital in the nation.
Mansfield hospital has six MD Anderson Cancer Network Certified Physicians in medical oncology, radiation oncology and cancer surgery. They deliver on MD Anderson Cancer Center’s nationally recognized best practices for patient outcomes, specialized treatment for many different types of cancer, and access to clinical trials.
The result is a level of care not found elsewhere in the Mansfield area.
That’s the strength of OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital: world-class care combined with a commitment to keep care local.
“I feel like when I was treated at OhioHealth, you could have called anyone on the floor and they would’ve known who Kelley Caporini is,” Caporini says. “That personal care is the most important thing.”
Srividya Viswanathan, MD is a part of OhioHealth Cancer Physicians. For more information about cancer services at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital please call 419-756-2003 or visit OhioHealth.com/Mansfield.
