Self Regional Healthcare breaks ground on cancer center
October 12, 2009
C/O Index Journal
Self Regional Healthcare broke ground on its 40,000-square-foot cancer center Thursday, October 8.
The event brought together elected officials, community leaders, hospital staff, doctors and patients, and marked the culmination of almost five years of planning.
The $23 million facility will dramatically increase hospital’s capacity to care for cancer patients. Currently, the oncology department has eight exam rooms and treats 60 patients each day, said Jim Pfeiffer, president and CEO of the hospital. The expansion will bring the department to 16 exam rooms, five chemotherapy beds and 22 treatment chairs. The number of cancer patients being treated at Self Regional is increasing.
“This is an important day in the future of healthcare in the Lakelands,” Pfeiffer said. “If you’ve ever had a family member or friend with cancer … I think you all know why we are here. We all want the very best care for our loved ones,” he said.
The cancer center will also consolidate three clinical areas — medical oncology, chemotherapy and radiation oncology — currently scattered throughout the hospital for the convenience of patients, Pfeiffer said.
The center will be part addition and part renovation to the existing building. It will also include a healing garden where patients will be able to take their treatments outside, 12,000-square-feet of new parking, and a special wig boutique for patients losing their hair as a result of their treatment.
Michelle Kennedy, a patient at Self who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year said the new cancer center will be a blessing to patients. Cancer patients experience hospitals in a different way, she said. They often spend prolonged periods of time there and have a variety of needs. Hospital visits are not passing occurrences, she said.
“Self has a solid foundation,” she said. “This center will arm an already caring, competent group of people to provide even better care. … We should already be proud of the resources Self provides and now we can rejoice as Self rises to a new level of care.”
Self Regional Healthcare Board of Trustees chairwoman Hazel Hughes said the process of getting the new facility off the ground has been an arduous one, filled with careful thought and planning and dedication to patient care.
“The decision to build a new cancer center for the people of this region did not happen overnight, nor did it happen in a matter of days, weeks or months,” she said. “As we break ground for this new facility we continue the tradition of excellence established by Mr. James Self when he established this hospital 60 years ago.”
The cancer center will be located on the ground floor, next to the hospital’s main entrance.
Freeman White, of Charlotte, served as the architecture firm for the project and Rogers Builders, also of Charlotte, will be handle construction.
The center is set for completion in 17 to 18 months in the spring of 2011.
