Vidant Cancer Care at the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower Opens in Greenville | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    GREENVILLE, N.C.     March 16, 2018 - It's a building designed in service to and for the care of patients, their families and our communities. Every element of Vidant Cancer Care at the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower in Greenville has been carefully considered with them in mind.

    In the lobby and throughout, natural light pours in through large windows. An outdoor healing garden provides a calm, quiet place to reflect. A comprehensive imaging clinic offers 3D mammography and a radiation oncology unit includes some of the most advanced technology available in the state.

    The total cost of construction and equipping the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower is $174 million. Approximately $50 million will be funded through philanthropy for construction, equipment and programmatic support.

    "We are thrilled to open Vidant Cancer Care at the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower in Greenville," said Brian Floyd, president of Vidant Medical Center. "Cancer is the leading cause of death in eastern North Carolina and we are committed to changing that. This building is the brick and mortar representation of our dedication to the communities we serve-and to a life without cancer."

    The 418,000-square-foot facility features 96 inpatient rooms, 60 infusion areas with a view of outdoor healing gardens and 58 different clinics centered on patient care. The theme throughout the building features flowering trees, calming color palates and art work of soothing nature scenes and North Carolina flowers. An image renewal center provides access to wigs, prosthetics and compression sleeves and garments. A resource center offers additional services to patients and families, including psychotherapy, support groups and complementary therapies.

    "Because we believe in a life without cancer, we've equipped this new building with everything we need to work toward our mission," said Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, executive director of Vidant Cancer Care. "The Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower supports our ongoing efforts to provide cancer education, early detection, timely intervention and patient coordination to enable the early diagnosis of cancer so that it is more effectively treated."

    State-of-the-art technology also means connecting the core of Vidant Cancer Care to care teams throughout the region has never been easier.

    "Vidant Cancer Care is not a single place. It is a fierce commitment to turn the tide against cancer for eastern North Carolina," said Dr. Zervos. "We are here to improve the health and well-being of the more than 1 million people who proudly call this region home."

    Through new conference room technology, providers throughout the region will be able to collaborate in real-time with teams of experts including physicians, surgeons, oncologists, nurses, therapists and others who are gathered in one location. They will be able to view scans and patient records to ensure each patient receives the best recommended treatment plan for his or her specific case.

    The tower will also be equipped with a Real-time Location System, which functions like a GPS for people and equipment inside the tower. The system is used to enhance patient safety and ensure resources are used efficiently.

    The six-story building opens with four floors in use, providing flexibility for future growth as needs warrant. By June, an additional 50 positions will have been added to the more than 250 team members who comprise Vidant Cancer Care-both in Greenville and throughout the 29 counties Vidant serves.

    "Vidant Cancer Care at the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Tower has been many years in the making, the result of a devoted system, dedicated team members and a supportive community," said Floyd. "And as magnificent as this new building may be, we're even more proud about what it means we'll be able to do for patients. No one wants to be diagnosed with cancer. It's up to us to make the journey as easy to navigate as possible. This building-and all of the resources and technology available within-makes a huge difference in our ability to do that in Greenville and throughout the region."

• Contact: Erica Mizelle
•     erica.mizelle@vidanthealth.com