The Vision of Many Becomes Reality: Barrett Cancer Center Construction

The renovation and expansion of the UC Health Barrett Cancer Center, the hub of the UC Cancer Institute, is not just the vision of one person.

And Rosemary Keiser, vice president of ambulatory service for UC Health, has the signatures to prove it.

"We had all of the physician leaders involved in the planning of the third floor addition and renovation sign the bottom of the blueprint,” she says, adding that she treasures the framed design with the signatures of Eric Eisenhauer, MD; Mary Mahoney, MD; Arthur Evans, MD; Elyse Lower, MD; and William Barrett, MD. "We discussed each of their wants and needs to make sure that the space would be exactly what was necessary for the best patient experience. Those signatures show the true team effort that went into making this project a reality.”

The construction of the third floor of the Barrett is on track to be completed by March 2015 and will focus on women’s cancer care.

The floor will be equipped with a waiting room which will also be used for educational initiatives, four mammography suites, three ultrasound suites, 18 exam and 18 infusion rooms, a procedure room and a large work area for physicians and staff strategically placed in the middle to promote communication between specialists and other care providers.

"We really put emphasis on communication and interdisciplinary care,” Keiser says. "We want our patients’ visits to be seamless, eliminating the need for them to wayfind to the various buildings and clinics on the medical campus.

"It’s everything they need in one place with their entire care team visible and available.”

Keiser says the customized patient care will begin when patients enter the building from the second floor where the elevators will take them directly to their care providers.

"Their needs will all be housed in one place,” she says. "They will also have access to clinical trial coordinators, social workers, nutritionists and oncology nurse specialists in addition to providers for the most cutting-edge care.”

Keiser adds that while the expertise has always existed at UC Health, this project is making the building match the ability.

"The Barrett Cancer Center is special because of the care delivered to patients and their families,” she says. "Now, the renovation will provide a more comfortable, convenient space for those coming to us. This is our chance to literally show patients and their loved ones how much we care about them.”

*This story was featured in the November 2014 issue of Connected.