Newswise — COLUMBUS, Ohio – When The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) dedicates its new 1.1-million-square-foot, 21-floor freestanding cancer hospital on Nov. 7, it will be the third-largest cancer hospital in the country, and the most innovative cancer hospital to date.
“We thought about this carefully and built a facility that supports the future of cancer care for our patients by integrating diagnosis, treatment, research and education,” said Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and chief executive officer of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
The building brings clinical care, research and education together in a highly subspecialized care model. Each inpatient unit has its own cancer focus, such as gastrointestinal, head and neck, leukemia, etc. The oncologists, nurses, pharmacists and genomic experts on each unit will treat just that type of cancer with a genomic-driven approach. They will collaborate with researchers to look at the patient’s genes and the tumor DNA to determine the best treatment and help speed research discoveries – an approach called precision cancer medicine.
“We’ve always done personalized cancer medicine, tailoring the treatment plan based on the patient’s past medical problems, family history and so forth,” said Dr. Sameek Roychowdhury, director of the precision cancer medicine program at the OSUCCC-James. “Precision cancer medicine is about looking at the genetic features and molecular changes acquired by that person’s cancer that has allowed it to grow and invade where it’s not supposed to, and tailoring the therapy.”
The new OSUCCC-James has the nation’s first cancer emergency department integrated with a hospital’s main emergency department. This unit includes 15 cancer treatment stations staffed by a team of doctors and nurses specially trained in oncology and emergency medicine.
The James also includes one of the largest cancer surgical facilities in the United States, with 14 operating rooms, including six interventional operating suites and two suites connected to a 3-Tesla MRI, allowing patients to be imaged during surgery.
Its radiation oncology center is state-of-the-art, with seven treatment vaults located on the hospital’s second floor. While most radiation centers are underground to help with radiation protection, The James is one of only two centers in the country to construct its radiation center on the second floor, providing patients and families sunlight and a view overlooking the park outside.
“It’s very unusual, but we felt it was necessary for our patients and staff. Natural light has been shown to reduce stress and improve the immune system, thus improving healing and outcomes. We’re very excited about this elevated radiation oncology center,” Caligiuri said.
Natural light is a key design feature throughout the hospital. Patients, visitors and staff will enjoy outdoor cafes and terrace gardens on the 14th floor, where plantings will include vegetables that researchers at the OSUCCC-James have demonstrated to have cancer preventive properties.
“This type of integration – bringing visitors, patients, researchers, clinicians and students all together - is really inspiring and where all hospitals want to be. It’s about taking the work from the laboratory bench to the patient, and back again to the researchers,” said Caligiuri.
Community Open House Nov. 9 Members of the community are invited to be among the first to view the new James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute during an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 9. Complimentary parking is available. The new hospital is at 460 W. 10th Ave.
To learn more about the new James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, visit cancer.osu.edu. To inquire about patient care programs or clinical trials, call The James Line at 1-800-293-5066.
About The OSUCCC – JamesThe Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute strives to create a cancer-free world by integrating scientific research with excellence in education and patient-centered care, a strategy that leads to better methods of prevention, detection and treatment. Ohio State is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only four centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials. The NCI recently rated Ohio State’s cancer program as “exceptional,” the highest rating given by NCI survey teams. As the cancer program’s adult patient-care component, The James is a “Top Hospital” as named by the Leapfrog Group and one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S.News & World Report.###**Editor Note: Video and photos available for download at: http://bit.ly/1ySSkm9 **
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