Regions Hospital opens expanded Cancer Care Center

State-of-the-art facility increases access to holistic cancer care, enhances healing environment for patients and family members

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nov. 11, 2014 — Regions Hospital today announced its Cancer Care Center has completed a $4.4 million expansion project that doubles the size of the facility to offer comprehensive cancer care. The Center’s new 19,000–square-foot space increases access to a range of holistic treatments and services, improves coordination of care and enhances the healing environment for patients and family members.

“We’re proud to provide the highest level of patient– and family–centered care in the community,” says Brock Nelson, president and CEO of Regions Hospital. “Tremendous planning went into creating this new center. We were deliberate in the design to incorporate feedback from patients, colleagues and physicians. The end result is a fresh, new facility that provides compassionate and individualized care for each of our patients.”

With the expansion, the center brings clinical care and research programs to a central location. Among the full–range of services patients can access include diagnostic screening; chemotherapy; radiation and hormonal therapy; specialized surgical oncology; genetic counseling; pain and symptom management; nutrition, medication and emotional support; complementary therapy; and other specialty services.

The number of exam rooms grows from eight to 21 and the number of infusion therapy chairs from 15 to 26 – half in private rooms. A new “fast-track” area was created to accommodate patients with quick visits and a conference space was established for support groups and education classes. An improved healing environment features a variety of artwork, a mix of open and private spaces, and ergonomically–designed beds and infusion chairs with heat and massage settings to help patients feel more at home.

“Cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally exhausting for patients and family members,” explains Randy Hurley, MD, a HealthPartners oncologist and medical director for the Cancer Care Center at Regions Hospital. “It’s very different from other illnesses in that the road to recovery is often long and at times challenging. With our expansion, we wanted to create a space that focuses on health, healing and hope. I think patients and their loved ones will find just that any time they visit for treatment.”

The Cancer Care Center’s multi-disciplinary team consists of an array of specialists in medical, radiation, gynecologic and surgical oncology, and breast health, in addition to nurse navigators and cancer registrars.

The center is one of just 74 programs surveyed in 2013 to be recognized nationally with an Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer for its focus on quality improvement and health outcomes.

In addition to the Cancer Care Center at Regions Hospital, HealthPartners provides cancer care services through HealthPartners Riverside Cancer Care Center, Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center, Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin and Lakeview Hospital.