MOUNT VERNON – An extensive renovation of the Center for Cancer Care at Knox Community Hospital is set to multiply the facility’s size twofold while making patient care easier.
The hospital foundation detailed the changes in a recent newsletter. Once the renovations are complete, the Cancer Center will be Knox Medical Pavilion’s primary ground-floor tenant.
“The expansion was made possible when the Wright Family Medical Pavilion (WFMP) opened and the Women’s Health and Diagnostic Imaging center relocated to the WFMP’s third floor,” the newsletter said.
The key to the enhanced design was allowing the clinical care team to offer input along with an architect and designers.
“When I design, I try to place myself into the role of the person I am designing for,” project designer Elisha Lorenzi said. “In this case, it’s the patient. If I can understand their concerns and experience, I can ensure that my design concept will best serve them. I feel confident that this new center will make patients feel special and cared for.”
Many medications — from antibiotics, biologics, immunotherapy, antiemetics, chemotherapy, blood product transfusions and more — are delivered intravenously. The Cancer Center revamp will feature an area where patients can take infusions surrounded by a calming, nature-based theme. This revised area will offer triple the number of patient chairs with warming and massaging settings.
In addition to the new infusion therapy area, the laboratory services offered in the KMP have also expanded to accommodate patients.
Building additional patient exam/procedure rooms for medical- and radiation oncology is scheduled for the second phase of the Center’s expansion. The project is slated for fall completion.
