West Cancer Center celebrated the grand opening of its East Campus location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 17th. Located at 7945 Wolf River Boulevard in Memphis, Tennessee, the 123,000 square foot facility combines multispecialty services including medical, surgical, diagnostic, and radiation oncology, in addition to West’s clinical research program. The result is a collaborative environment that will both foster West Cancer Center’s comprehensive approach to treatment and transform the delivery of oncology care in the Mid-South.
“This marks another milestone in the transformation of how we care for and treat our patients,” said Erich Mounce, CEO of West Cancer Center. “By physically combining the forces of our multidisciplinary specialty teams into one facility, we are creating an environment that truly fosters collaboration and produces a unique understanding of what each specialty requires, allowing everyone to perform at their highest level.”
A Multidisciplinary Partnership
The grand opening is a result of a partnership between Methodist Healthcare, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and West Clinic, who joined together in January 2012 to form West Cancer Center.
This partnership unites the foremost leaders in education, research, and patient care to advance the field of oncology. Combining the nation’s premier oncologists and researchers with the leading experts in radiation and surgical oncology fosters a collaborative environment to improve patient care.
The new West Cancer Center location draws upon all three organizations to house both clinical and research services, care support resources, innovative drug therapy, a comprehensive breast center, and survivorship services in order to better meet the needs of an ever-expanding patient population.
Focus on Research
West Cancer Center’s research program combines clinical research in the patient-focused setting with translational methodology in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center laboratories—creating a bench-to-bedside model to deliver the most innovative and effective care for our patients.
“We have an extraordinarily dedicated team of professors and researchers who are searching for and discovering medical breakthroughs,” said Steve Schwab, Chancellor of UTHSC. “By partnering with West Cancer Center and Methodist, we have the ability to advance health care and impact patients’ lives through personalized clinical trials and lifesaving research.”
This dedication to research and innovation is reflected in West’s commitment to bringing the latest advancements in immuno-oncology and other targeted therapies to patients in the Mid-South, allowing them to be among the first to benefit from the most advanced improvements in cancer care.
Providing Care
The American Cancer Society expects the number of new cancer cases diagnosed in the Mid-South to exceed 72,000 in 2015. The number of new cancer cases is expected to rise by 70% over the next 2 decades. By bringing every aspect of cancer care under one roof and creating one cancer treatment home for all stages of the cancer treatment journey, care is much more accessible for patients, especially for those with tight financial budgets who find it a challenge to travel to multiple sites of care. It also helps to create a streamlined navigational process for patients.
“Our mission at Methodist Healthcare is to provide high-quality health care for everyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Gary Shorb, CEO of Methodist Healthcare. “The multidisciplinary approach at West Cancer Center will provide accessible and unparalleled cancer care for the entire Mid-South and beyond.” ■
