Thursday, November 29, 2018
UNC REX Healthcare plans to open a new Cancer Center across the street from its main Raleigh campus to meet the increasing need for oncology treatment and services, and serve patients from across Eastern North Carolina for generations to come.
Design plans are still being finalized, but construction on the four-story, 145,000-square-foot project is set to start in the spring of 2019 at the corner of Blue Ridge and Macon Pond roads. The building is scheduled to open in late 2020, and will become a destination for compassionate, patient-centered oncology care using the latest research and best medical technology available.
UNC REX needs this larger space to accommodate growth in oncology patients, a trend being driven by our region’s aging and growing population, improving diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and our reputation for providing excellent cancer treatment and research.
“We believe our new Cancer Center will create a hub for oncology care for patients from across Wake County and Eastern North Carolina,” said Steve Burriss, president of UNC REX. “UNC REX has long been known as the leader in Wake County for providing the highest quality, compassionate cancer care to patients and support for families. This center will provide a new home to care for more people who rely on us for treatment and support during a cancer diagnosis. Through our partnership with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and N.C. Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill, UNC REX patients will continue to benefit from the best in academic medicine, research and clinical trials through strong collaboration among physician colleagues there.”
The new UNC REX Cancer Center is being designed to improve patient care with input from patients and their families, physicians, nurses and other co-workers. New services offered will include a “Quality of Life Clinic” with a variety of support services for cancer patients, including behavioral health care, palliative care, massage therapy, holistic treatment and more. New infusion bays will be designed to support patients and their families. The new location also allows for ample and easy-to-access parking for patients and families.
“The physicians and other caregivers are especially pleased to have the space to offer even more support services to our patients and their families,” said Dr. Susan Moore, medical director of UNC REX Hematology Oncology. “We are proud of the personal connections we develop with our patients and their families. Every inch of our new cancer center is being developed with our patients in mind. It also allows for new opportunities to partner in patient care with our colleagues at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
The new Center will more than double the space dedicated to cancer care on the UNC REX campus, and help streamline the work of multidisciplinary oncology teams. The Center will consolidate two existing areas, including the main REX Cancer Center, and a satellite clinic on Blue Ridge Road. The new Center’s providers will also collaborate with UNC REX’s satellite cancer clinics in Cary, Garner, East Raleigh, Wakefield, Clayton and Smithfield.
