Outpatient oncology programs associated with Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute will have a new home beginning in 2011.
The Ohio State University Board of Trustees Friday authorized the university to negotiate final terms and enter into a lease/purchase agreement for property at 739 W. Third Ave., less than a mile from The James. Construction of the JamesCare Comprehensive Breast Health Center will more than double the space in use at JamesCare in Dublin and allow for future expansion.
The proposed center will provide a complete range of breast health services, including diagnostic services and expanded access to progressive technology and clinical care. Located within Columbus’ 315 Research and Technology Corridor, the new center also will provide convenient access for patients from all points in Ohio.
Dr. Michael Caligiuri, CEO of The James and director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, says the new facility will satisfy the growing demand for outpatient breast oncology care and increase patient access to therapeutic clinical trials.
“With ample space for expansion, easy access from Route 315 and close proximity to The James, the location makes perfect sense,” Caligiuri said. “Most importantly, the completed center will help us deliver the latest techniques in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatments to our patients, and help us remain one of the top-ranked cancer programs in the country.”
At the moment, the Columbus Police heliport occupies the proposed site; however, plans were announced last year to relocate the operation to a larger facility.
Mark Conselyea, an associate executive director at The James with responsibility for outpatient care sites, said the new location will allow for construction of a building that combines current research and clinical findings with patient care.
“The James has 10 physicians working exclusively in breast cancer and 20 researchers focused on breast cancer. This type of focused expertise is unmatched in the region, and we want to further enhance that expertise,” Conselyea said.
“Patients come to JamesCare knowing they will receive high quality care and the latest treatments from a committed staff of breast oncology experts,” Conselyea said. “The Third Avenue location will allow us to recruit additional experts, further expanding our interdisciplinary team to develop and deliver personalized treatment programs for patients.”
Conselyea added that the new facility will have ample parking and a larger Hope’s Boutique, a store catering to breast cancer patients and survivors. JamesCare in Dublin will remain open until the new building on Third Avenue is completed.
Preliminary construction plans call for the building to eventually include 103,000-square feet on four floors. Costs for the new facility will be paid for by operating revenue generated at the center.
Ohio State is in the early stages of a massive medical center expansion project that will help position it as a top-20 academic medical center and top-10 NCI-funded cancer program. The project, the largest in the university’s history and estimated to cost more than $1 billion, is expected to be completed by 2016.
