Goshen Center for Cancer Care expands advanced bladder cancer treatment close to home

At Goshen Health, exceptional care is the result of teams coming together with a shared purpose. That spirit of collaboration recently helped expand access to specialized bladder cancer treatment at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care, allowing more patients to receive advanced care close to home.

Goshen Center for Cancer Care now offers a treatment for certain types of bladder cancer that delivers medication directly into the bladder. This approach helps target the cancer more precisely. Treatment usually involves a once-a-week session for six weeks, with additional treatments later if recommended by the patient’s doctor. Because of this coordinated effort, patients can now receive highly specialized care close to home, helping reduce travel burdens and allowing patients to receive care closer to their support systems.

This initiative began with a single patient who had been traveling outside the community for treatment. Recognizing the physical and emotional toll placed on the patient and their family, Dr. Tony Gauthier, board certified urologist with Goshen Physicians, partnered with leaders and clinicians across Goshen Health to find a local solution.

“National drug shortages made it difficult for smaller hospitals to access standard therapies,” Dr. Gauthier explained. “By researching alternative chemotherapy agents used successfully at major cancer centers, we were able to bring the same high-quality care to our patients here at Goshen.”

Turning that vision into reality required close collaboration across multiple Goshen Health teams. Clinical leaders from pharmacy, IT, nursing and infusion services worked together to develop comprehensive treatment protocols and ensure all safety and regulatory requirements were met. Infusion nurses completed specialized training and Dr. Gauthier personally supported the first treatment to help ensure a smooth launch. This cross-departmental effort not only improved patient care but also earned recognition and an award at the annual Goshen Health Colleague Recognition celebration, highlighting the power of teamwork in driving meaningful impact.

Since launching the program, multiple patients have successfully completed treatment locally, a direct result of the expertise, flexibility and dedication of the Goshen Health care teams.

By expanding advanced cancer services at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen Health continues to improve access to specialized care while strengthening the patient experience close to home. Most importantly, this achievement reflects a culture of teamwork, innovation and shared commitment to meeting patient needs.