Officials Break Ground On New Cancer Center And Bed Tower | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Greenville, NC — Today Vidant Health officials broke ground on a new cancer center and bed tower at Vidant Medical Center that will create a state-of-the-art destination for oncology patients and families.

    Eastern North Carolina has a much higher mortality rate for cancer diagnosis than the national average, and more than 7,500 new cases are diagnosed each year in this region.

    "Vidant Health has recognized that the numbers are not improving, so we are dedicating significant resources to build a premier cancer program, focusing on developing a sustainable, regionally connected system-of-care," said Janet Mullaney, interim CEO of Vidant Health. "We are building this cancer center and bed tower to be the hub of inpatient and outpatient care, providing access to prevention, early detection and coordinated patient care, and identifying new and innovative approaches to treatment and prevention."

    The new 418,000 square-foot cancer center and bed tower will be located adjacent to the existing East Carolina Heart Institute on the Vidant Medical Center campus. The six-story, 96-bed facility will be designed so all inpatient beds can provide care at either intensive or intermediate care levels. It will also include space for the following:

• First floor — 140,000 square feet, including a lobby, outpatient cancer clinic, radiation oncology, infusion services, patient support, pharmacy, lab and administration office space.
• Second floor — 48 inpatient beds and clinical support space
• Third floor — mechanical, electrical and support space
• Fourth floor — 48 inpatient beds and clinical support space
• Fifth and sixth floors — used for storage, leaving space for possible future expansion and/or the replacement of existing hospital inpatient beds

    "This new building is all about hope. It's about making the commitment to eliminate barriers to care for all of those with cancer," said Dr. Walker, chief, hematology and oncology; director, thoracic oncology; director, hematology and oncology fellowship program at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. "This will be the flagship academic and clinical cancer center where we will have teams of cancer experts working on innovative cancer treatment and research to provide the best cancer treatment possible anywhere and where we will also be training the next generation of oncologists."

    The estimated cost of construction and equipping the cancer center and bed tower is more than $170 million. Approximately $40 million of the cost is expected to be funded through philanthropy.

    Officials participating in the ground breaking ceremony included:

• Brian Floyd, president, Vidant Medical Center
• Carolyn Fleming-Sawyerr, administrator of pastoral services, Vidant Medical Center
• Dr. Mary Raab-McConnell, honorary chair, Vidant Health Cancer Care Campaign, Vidant Health Foundation
• Dr. Paul Walker, chief, hematology and oncology; director, thoracic oncology; director hematology and oncology fellowship program at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
• Myra Bowen and David Womack, co-chairs of the Vidant Health Cancer Care Campaign, Vidant Health Foundation
• Janet Mullaney, interim CEO, Vidant Health

    During the design phase of the project, input was sought from current staff, as well as patient — and family — advisors, as to what would be the most comforting layouts and color schemes to meet the needs of cancer patients and families. Throughout the building, visitors will find special touches and features to help enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery and improve the patient experience.

    Patients, visitors and staff will be able to enjoy healing gardens and natural outside environments and shop at a specialized boutique designed to meet the needs of cancer patients. There will also be a resource room for patients and families to do research, in addition to conference space for cancer awareness and support programs.

    "Everything in this facility is centered on providing the best possible experience for patients and families," said Brian Floyd, president, Vidant Medical Center. "We will enhance the efficiency of care delivery, as well as serve as the home to programs and services that allow us to coordinate and integrate the regional treatment of cancer."

    Construction begins in April 2015, with estimated completion in 2018.

    For additional information about Vidant Health Cancer Care, please visit cancercare.vidanthealth.com.

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in eight eastern North Carolina hospitals. The health system includes Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.