University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center broke ground Oct. 27 for a $4.8 million project that will create an additional 11,500 square feet on the east side of the Seidman Cancer Center, overlooking rolling valleys and scenic natural views that can’t be found in large downtown hospitals.
The expansion is expected to open in the summer of 2017.
The Chardon-based hospital offers infusion services for treatments including chemotherapy, red/white blood cell growth factor injections, blood transfusions and IV antibiotics. Some of these treatments can last up to six hours, leaving patients and their family members stuck in a small room in the center of the hospital.
Oncologist Dr. Judah Friedman has been treating cancer patients at UH Geauga since 2007, and has worked closely with the hospital board of directors to see this project through to completion.
On Thursday night, he told a crowd of donors, dignitaries and hospital staff how much this project will mean to patients.
“One of the things that Geauga has is a beautiful surrounding countryside,” Friedman explained. “Pretty much every day you’ll hear me saying — maybe twice a day, maybe five times a day —’We need windows.'”
Geauga County Recorder Sharon Gingerich’s recent battle with cancer highlighted the need for a better, more peaceful place for cancer patients closer to home. She found herself driving to Cleveland for care, a process that left her exhausted.
“It’s going to be great,” Gingerich remarked at the groundbreaking event. “To be able to look out over that valley — it’s so peaceful at a time when cancer (is causing) so much chaos in your life.”
The scenic view may be the most visually striking improvement for patients, but Steven Jones, former President of UH Geauga and now President of University Hospitals in the East Region, emphasized the biggest improvements will be in availability and coordination of care.
“It’s a milestone to have this full service comprehensive cancer care center in Geauga County,” Jones said. “Everyone will be in one place to work together as a team. The radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, therapists, nurses, all on one team being able to provide comprehensive services.”
In the new facility, specialists will no longer be spread out across the hospital or between campuses. A patient can enter with a diagnosis and have their whole cancer care team in one area coordinating care not only with the physicians at Geauga, but with doctors at the Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals’ downtown location.
“About 90 percent of the services you’ll need are going to be available here,” Jones said of the new outpatient facility.
Jim Patterson, chairman of the capital campaign, has long been an advocate and fundraiser for UH Geauga.
Those in attendance celebrated his dedication to the hospital expansion. He, in turn, made sure to thank the many donors to this project, as well as those who have donated to campaigns “back to 1950 and the very first fundraising effort to originally build the hospital.”
The UH Geauga Medical Center Auxiliary also drew his admiration for the over $2 million they have raised since their beginning in 1950, and the $185,000 donation they have been able to make to the Seidman Cancer Center addition.
He explained that over the last few years, the hospital leadership undertook four goals to make UH Geauga a “destination hospital” for not only Geauga County, but Northeast Ohio.
The first three goals — a pediatric unit aligned with Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, a new orthopedics addition, and a second cardiac cath lab — have been met, which leaves the new infusion center as the last to achieve.
But Patterson advised the crowd that “the fundraising will never end because when we finish this project, we’ll embark on another one to benefit the people of Geauga County and Northeast Ohio.”
Patterson also recognized the auxiliary for their pie sale, which was taking place in the lobby during the event.
“You may have noticed when you came in a sale of pies over here,” he told the crowd. “There are 334 pies that have been donated by the Amish community as a thank-you for the auxiliary’s help with the transportation funding they provide for the cancer patients.”
The pie sales have been one of the most successful fundraising events the auxiliary holds each year, so it was a stroke of luck for it to take place on an evening when the lobby was packed with donors and members of the public.
“Didn’t that work out great?” Jane Aebie, president of the auxiliary said with a laugh.
Aebie’s daughter works in the cancer center and she’s grateful for the money donated to help give her daughter more room to care for her patients.
Several local dignitaries were at the hospital to share their enthusiasm for the expansion. Chester Trustee Bud Kinney, state Sen. John Eklund and Congressman Dave Joyce gave their congratulations.
Joyce, currently on recess from Washington D.C. before next week’s election, thinks it’s a “wonderful thing for our community and for the hospital, and for all the people who are going to be treated here.”
