Flower unveils plan for new cancer center

An architect has submitted a rendering of what Flower's new Cancer Institute will look like.

Flower Hospital will become a center for cancer outpatient care with construction of Cancer Institute, just one part of a $42 million initiative ProMedica Health Systems is to announce today.

The new Cancer Institute will be a renovation of the current 10,000-square-foot outpatient cancer unit at Flower, plus an 8,500-square-foot addition.

It will hold millions of dollars worth of new radiation oncology equipment and provide more comfortable facilities for patients receiving chemotherapy.

The $42 million plan includes construction of a 60,000-square-foot medical office building on the Flower campus, and a free-standing $3.75 million, 12-bed hospice there. Some 40 to 50 new jobs are expected.

Health system officials said the new cancer initiative will provide more integrated service for cancer patients, who often see many doctors in the course of their treatment.

"Our biggest information from doctors and patients is that care is fragmented, and the [patients] have to navigate that by themselves," said Randy Oostra, president and chief operating officer for ProMedica. The new system will end that fragmentation, and assure patients have assistance through the maze of medical care.

Finally, if ProMedica hasn't got the right treatment, it has a new partner who does, Mr. Oostra said. The health system also announced a partnership with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

Karmanos is one of 39 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers, with ongoing research in a number of areas.

"We want to make sure people can stay home for their care. When they can't, we want them to come to [Flower], and if we can't treat them, we have a nationally recognized partner. That's why we're really excited about the partnership with Karmanos," Mr. Oostra said.

"We're absolutely pleased with the quality and breadth of experience" within the ProMedica system, said Dr. John Ruckdeschel, president and CEO for Karmanos.

Forming this partnership cost ProMedica nothing. And for Karmanos, this is a way of doing business. It has similar agreements with hospitals as far north as Marquette in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The ProMedica partnership is Karmanos' first in Ohio.

ProMedica is expected to expand cancer treatment in its region as well. The nine-hospital system already has one cancer treatment center at its Adrian hospital, and intends to create two more as part of its $42 million initiative.

Besides Toledo Hospital, Toledo Children's Hospital, and Flower, ProMedica operates hospitals in Lima, Fostoria, Oregon, Defiance, and Tecumseh, Mich.

Contact Jenni Laidman at:

jenni@theblade.com

or 419-724-6507.