Parkview Cancer Institute Reaches Construction Milestone
FORT WAYNE — Parkview Health president and CEO Mike Packnett today joined health system and community leaders to celebrate the placement of the final steel beam at the new Parkview Cancer Institute. The Parkview Cancer Institute will be connected to Parkview Regional Medical Center, south of Medical Park 11. The $100 million, 175,000 square foot facility is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2018.
“We’ve hit an exciting milestone in Parkview’s journey to create the region’s best cancer institute,” said Packnett. “We are one step closer to completing our vision for innovative cancer care. This is going to be a beautiful facility but the true foundation on which we build these walls is to provide a comfortable, healing environment for patients and their families. ”
Throughout the country, the number of cancer cases treated every year is rising. Within this region, Parkview has seen significant growth in the number of patients needing treatment. Parkview’s increased volume in patients can be attributed to more patients choosing to receive cancer care at Parkview, in addition to a growing and aging population throughout the region.
Parkview worked with many of the best cancer facilities around the country to understand what the Parkview Cancer Institute should include. As a patient-centered cancer institute, the facility will minimize the feeling of being in a hospital by incorporating a healing environment through the use of natural lighting, private spaces for families, respite rooms and more. The Parkview Cancer Institute will be physician led, using an enhanced care navigator system that will allow for a coordinated process to help improve the quality of care and the patient experience.
“It has certainly been an honor to take part in such a forward-thinking approach to cancer care, right here in Fort Wayne,” said Neil Sharma, MD, president, Parkview Cancer Institute. “The Parkview Cancer Institute is meant to ease the stress that comes along with cancer care – for patients and their families – not just in the medical care we provide, but how we provide it. Our interdisciplinary care model eliminates the need for patients to seek out treatment and services at multiple locations and instead allows our care teams to come to the patient.”
Dr. Sharma and his team recently welcomed Alexander Starodub, MD, Parkview Physicians Group – Medical Oncology and Hematology. Starodub is the first of at least 10 new physicians to join the Parkview Cancer Institute.
“There is a growing demand for cancer care in this region, and the Parkview Cancer Institute is going to fill that need,” added Sharma. “We’re adapting to the changing needs of healthcare in this community and we will continue to adapt for generations to come so long as it better serves the patient.”
Click here to access the time lapse camera photographing the construction of the Parkview Cancer Institute from atop Parkview Regional Medical Center.