Cleveland Clinic Opens New Cancer Center
Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, Cleveland: The new Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center will begin welcoming patients on Monday, March 6. The 377,000-square-foot facility, estimated at $276 million, will house all outpatient cancer treatment services in one location with the center’s team of medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses, genetic counselors, social workers and others all working together in one shared space to improve patient outcomes.
The new seven-story cancer building is located on the north side of Carnegie Avenue between East 102nd and 105th Streets.
“Every aspect of Cleveland Clinic’s new cancer center was designed with the patient in mind to provide the best clinical outcomes and patient experience,” said Toby Cosgrove, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic. “Further, it will foster greater collaboration, communication and research among physicians and care providers in the fight against cancer.”
The Taussig Cancer Center was designed with patient experience and empathy in mind, drawing on feedback from a panel of former cancer patients who outlined what would make their experience as ideal, welcoming and healing as possible.
The new building, designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. and Stantec Architecture, is organized by cancer type, allowing patients to now have all of their appointments in one area where clinical caregivers come to the patient. For example, all clinical and treatment areas for breast cancer are located together on the same floor offering greater convenience for patients. The new cancer center was designed to create a healing environment by the use of natural light throughout the entire facility. Reception areas are filled with light, infusion rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and a unique skylight allows natural light into the lower level where patients will receive radiation and imaging services. In addition, a new 350-foot-long canopy at the building’s entrance will provide a more convenient and welcoming arrival process for patients.
“As one of the nation’s most progressive cancer centers, the new Taussig Cancer Center will provide a seamless, personalized experience,” said Brian J. Bolwell, M.D., FACP, chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. “Our design priorities of reduced wait times, improved patient flow, multidisciplinary clinics and a healing environment, combined with a commitment to cancer research, will deliver the best possible care and support for our patients.”
The new building includes an open first level featuring a large laboratory to help avoid long waits for blood testing; an outpatient pharmacy; a retail store stocked with items to meet cancer patients’ needs; and a café that accommodates special diets.
Clinical features of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center include:
- 126 exams rooms and 98 treatment rooms in close proximity
- Private chemotherapy infusion suites along the north side of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the tree-lined lawn
- Genetics and genomics testing
- A centralized home for existing high-level treatment technology, including six linear accelerators and a Gamma Knife suite
- On-site diagnostic imaging
- Dedicated area for phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials, with a special emphasis on supporting phase 1 trials
Beyond clinical services, the facility’s first floor will house critical support services intended to reduce cancer’s psychological stress. Those services include:
- A resource center where patients and families can access printed and online cancer information
- Art and music therapy spaces
- A boutique where patients with chemotherapy-associated hair loss can receive free wigs, caps and scarves
- A wellness center for guided imagery, facials and other aesthetic services
- A private prosthetics fitting area
- The 4th Angel Mentoring Program, an initiative begun by figure skating champion and Cleveland Clinic cancer patient Scott Hamilton, to provide patients with free, confidential, one-on-one advice and support from a trained volunteer and cancer survivor
- A spiritual area for prayer or meditation
Led by Turner Construction, 2,000 construction employees logged more than 1,000,000 hours on the project. During construction, a special recognition wall was installed for workers to place ribbons inscribed with the names of loved ones affected by cancer using colored ribbons to denote the type of cancer, such as dark blue for colon cancer and white for lung cancer. Located in an area where tradespeople passed daily, this wall helped serve as a reminder of the new facility’s purpose, and will be preserved as a permanent art piece in the new building.
The Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is ranked no. 8 in the U.S. and best in Ohio for cancer care according to U.S. News and World Report. The center serves cancer patients across 17 locations in northern Ohio and Weston, Florida. More than 450 clinicians, scientists and other cancer specialists are committed to researching and applying the latest, most effective techniques for diagnosis and treatment to achieve long-term survival and improved quality of life for all cancer patients. Cleveland Clinic is a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) designated cancer center supporting all cancer-related research efforts at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Cleveland Clinic’s cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC), with commendation in all four areas possible for an NCIdesignated cancer center: clinical trial accrual, public reporting of outcomes, College of American Pathologists protocols, and nursing care.
The new cancer center will replace the existing Taussig Cancer Institute building on East 90th and Euclid Avenue. Outpatient cancer services will end at the current location on Friday, March 3, and resume in the new building on Monday, March 6.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 49,000 employees are more than 3,400 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 14,000 nurses, representing 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals, more than 150 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in Weston, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2015, there were 6.6 million outpatient visits, 164,700 hospital admissions and 208,807 surgical cases throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 180 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.
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