May 23, 2003 at 9:46 a.m.
Fairview and U of M physicians team up for $3 million oncology services project
Fairview and U of M physicians team up for $3 million oncology services project
The $2.8 million facility will be 80 percent occupied by Fairview Lakes Oncology Services and University of Minnesota Physicians Radiation Therapy Group.
The new services that will be available to cancer patients will fill a radiology services void that exists from west central Wisconsin, to Duluth and the Twin Cities, according to Dan Anderson, Fairview President.
There’s also about 2,000 square feet in the addition open and available for lease.
The joining of the University Physicians group practice with Fairview is something that speakers at the ceremony for both organizations were proud of. Research being done by the university coupled with the health care services through Fairview will make for radiation therapy, “...of the most advanced clinical capabilities,” officials said in prepared statements.
Plus, it’ll be really nice for radiation patients to not have to travel into the metro area for services, Anderson explained.
The equipment at the new facility includes a computerized tomography simulator. (CT) The images produced by this machine allow the radiation oncologist to see exact locations of cancer in the body and develop the radiation treatment individually.
There will be a treatment planning computer. This assists in maximizing the radiation dosage to the tumor while avoiding surrounding tissue.
A linear accelerator completes the list of the three main pieces of radiation treatment technology. This delivers the actual radiation treatment. It will be equipped with a portal imager and controlled multi-leaf collimators for shielding.
Mortenson is the design-builder of the project with Jordan Architects.
Construction is planned to continue until about December. The one-story addition links up to the southwest side of the present medical center and will displace a portion of a parking lot. The structure is plaster, glass and brick to blend with the existing building.
Mortenson also oversaw the most recent addition off the emergency room or northeast side of the facility in Wyoming.
The growth of the Fairview Medical Regional Medical Center has been remarkable. The hospital and OB areas were filled shortly after the facility opened in February 1998. There’s 30 physicians on-site in the clinic and hospital now. There are five operating rooms. Satellite Fairview Clincs operate in Chisago City, Lino Lakes, North BRanch and Rush City.
The Wyoming regional health care campus, which is just south of Wyoming on old Highway 61, is 110 acres and there’s about 28 acres in use by the facility.
Chisago Health Services of Chisago City, Forest Lake District Memorial Hospital and Rush City Clinic and Hospital came together to create the regional care system with Fairview. Hospitals in Chisago City, Rush City and Forest Lake closed and the new Wyoming acute care 59-bed facility took their place.
Comments:
Commenting has been disabled for this item.