Presence Health Breaks Ground on New Cancer Center

Presence Health Breaks Ground on New Cancer Center

By Laura Drucker

As part of its growing ambulatory care services, Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center broke ground on Nov. 5 for its new $12.3 million Center for Cancer and Specialty Care in Ukrainian Village.

The new cancer center will offer a one-stop approach to patients, who often must visit several campus locations to receive treatment and other services. The new facility will offer everything from medical oncology to radiation therapy to health and wellness classes. There will also be an onsite pharmacy and a patient education resource center.

“According to the advisory board, over the next 10 years, cancer cases are projected to increase 18 percent in the communities the new facility will serve, including West Town, Humboldt Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Ukrainian Village,” says Korathu Thomas, MD, medical director of the cancer program at PSMEMC.

The new facility will focus on reducing occurrences of late cancer diagnoses with improved patient education and screening, better social support for patients and their families, and more efficient follow-up services after diagnosis and treatment, Thomas says.

The new center is expected to open next summer.