CTCA expansion projects reach halfway completion mark
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TULSA - February 18, 2009. Expansion efforts at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa have reached the halfway completion mark. The hospital, located at 81st Street and Highway 169, is halfway through the construction phase of adding more than 60,000 square feet.
Construction for the expansion began in August 2008 and the following projects are now complete: expansion of the warehouse, central plant, and the addition of a café and dining room for employees. The other expansion efforts currently underway include 78 additional outpatient accommodations, conference space for CTCA patients, physicians and clinicians to conduct integrated treatment planning meetings, and a fitness center for patients, their families, and employees.
"This expansion effort is part of our strategic long-term plan to continue offering our patients the services they want and need," said Steve Mackin, CTCA president and CEO of the Tulsa hospital. "It’s all part of our Mother Standard® of care - treating our patients with the same compassionate, individualized approach to care that we would want our own loved ones to receive."
As part of the central plant expansion, CTCA added three on-site emergency power generators and one large, uninterruptible power supply to ensure continuous care in areas such as radiation oncology and imaging services in the event of a power outage. "After experiencing power outages from the ice storm in December 2007, we decided to make this investment. More than just backup power, we can now be sure that if a power outage occurs, our services will continue operating without any interruptions."
The new 1,708 square foot employee café was added to provide patients and their family members more space and shorter lines in the patient café. The new employee café and dining room features enough room for 64 people and includes a grill, an organic salad bar, an espresso machine and an entrée station. Six cooks and hostess were hired for the new café.
"We wanted to provide our stakeholders with a beautiful, bright space where they can relax and recharge with a tasty, healthful meal so they can go back to their jobs and continue delivering make-a-difference care for our patients," added Mackin.
The 2,512 square-foot fitness center, 78 additional outpatient accommodations and administration expansion efforts are still under construction, with an estimated completion date of September 2009. Approximately five full-time and six part-time housekeeping staff, and two engineers will be added once this phase is complete.
Over the last four years, CTCA has added about 200 employees to its staff - the hospital had 463 employees in April 2005 when it moved into its new building; today it has almost 660.
The hospital is finalizing the next phase of construction, which will include doubling the size of its clinic by adding more patient exam rooms. This phase is expected to begin in the fall of 2009 and will add another 14,000 square feet.
CTCA is Oklahoma’s only major hospital totally focused on cancer. The hospital embraces an integrative approach to cancer care, combining traditional treatment options with complementary therapies under one roof.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals providing a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment. CTCA serves patients with complex cancer from all 50 states at facilities located in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Tulsa and suburban Phoenix. Known for delivering the Mother Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.
