History
Soroka Medical Center is among Israel's largest and most advanced hospitals, and the country's busiest. Soroka is the only major medical center in the entire Negev, serving a population of more than one million inhabitants, including 400,000 children, in a region that accounts for 60% of the country's total land area. Soroka serves as the teaching hospital of the Ben-Gurion University Medical School, whose Faculty of Health Sciences is located on the hospital campus, as well as the Medical School for International Health of Columbia University Medical Center. On par with leading international institutions, Soroka is a recognized specialist in areas including early detection and treatment of breast cancer using minimally invasive procedures; revolutionary treatment of myocardial infarction involving genetic engineering; non-invasive removal of malignant tumors; leading research in the development of skin cell transplants; trauma rehabilitation of children and adolescents; pediatric infectious diseases; and much more. Each year, Soroka cares for more than 500,000 outpatient and clinic visits, 220,000 emergency cases, 80,000 hospitalizations fill its 1,100 beds, over 32,000 surgical procedures are performed, and more than 16,000 babies are born. Its neonatal and pediatric departments provide family-centered intensive care with world-class survival rates. Soroka's Trauma Unit is the largest and busiest in Israel, always on call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Soroka serves as the regional trauma center for victims of terror and for all Israel Defense Force bases in and near the Negev. This need is unfortunately constant and increasing, most recently in light of the ongoing security situation in areas bordering Gaza. Soroka Medical Center stands at the forefront of medical progress, and is currently upgrading and enhancing research capabilities and the healthcare it provides. Soroka's staff is dedicated to advancing research and to providing the best medical and emergency care, while treating the patient as a whole human being.
Profile
The department of oncology, Soroka Medical Center provides comprehensive non-surgical treatments to all patients diagnosed with cancer who reside in the southern district of Israel.
The department comprises of four units:
- outpatient clinic
- outpatient daycare
- inpatient ward
- radiotherapy services
1,300 newly-diagnosed cancer patients are annually referred to the department of oncology. The medical staff of the department includes 15 senior, and 7 junior physicians.
Specialities
All newly-diagnosed patients are discussed with the referring physicians or surgeons, imaging physicians and pathologists in special tumor-boards. All newly-diagnosed patients are routinely interviewed by social workers, nurses, and dieticians, and treatment plan is individually tailored for each patient in consultation with the treating oncologists. Tumor-boards are in the following fields: breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, lung, head and neck, and brain tumors. Treatments include: chemotherapy, biotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy in addition to comprehensive palliative and supportive care.
Palliative and Supportive Care
Palliative and supportive care is provided by expert physicians in: (a) the oncology outpatient clinic, (b) inpatient wards. Supportive care team also includes onco-psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, expert physicians in rehabilitation, and trained experts in spiritual support.
Last update: March 2024
