Plans for New Cancer Hospital on Schedule

Excitement continues to build as plans for University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center's new hospital move forward. The new facility, due to open in three years as a 21st century marvel of patient-focused design, is likely to enhance physician recruiting efforts and to make research activities more efficient than ever before.

University Hospitals Case Medical Center recently selected Cannon Design, a St. Louis architectural firm, to design its new cancer facility. The proposed 375,000-square-foot, 150-bed hospital is to be located adjacent to Mather Pavilion, unifying all cancer care in one building. Cannon Design recently completed numerous healthcare projects nationwide, including the Tate Cancer Center at Washington Medical Center in Baltimore, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University in St. Louis.

Architectural specifications have been developed and are in the final stages of review. Developing conceptual designs – location of departments, number of rooms and array of equipment – are underway. Steering committees, design teams and patient focus groups are working together with nearly 100 hospital staff members on the project that, when completed, is expected to significantly enhance the quality of patient care.

Researchers have found that hospital design is closely associated with patient health and quality of care.They recommend providing single-occupancy hospital rooms, noise level reductions and easy-to-navigate traffic patterns in the hospital. UH planners have incorporated these and other recommendations. All patient rooms will be private, spacious and designed to accommodate overnight stays by family members. Plans call for areas that provide for patients' spiritual and wellness needs, inpatient exercise rooms, green space and natural lighting wherever possible.

The future free-standing cancer hospital will offer patients not only advanced cancer care but a beautiful,life-affirming healing garden. Funded by a generous $2.75-million gift from the Robert and Cindy Schneider family, the healing garden will help patients and their families cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.

Mr. and Mrs. Schneider made the donation in memory of Robert's parents, Albert and Mary Schneider, who both died of cancer. Cindy Schneider is a cancer survivor. Both Robert and Cindy are members of the UH Ireland Cancer Center's National Cancer Leadership Council.

Also, the Lubrizol Corporation and The Lubrizol Foundation announced their committment to donate a total of $500,000 to support the new cancer hospital. The corporation and the foundation will donate $250,000 each to UH's Vision 2010 strategic plan that includes the cancer hospital project.