A new, $19.1 million cancer care center in Paducah is nearly complete. The Baptist Health Paducah Ray and Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center will open for public tours on June 28.
Patient services begin July 10. The 56,000 square-foot center is located at Broadway and 24th Street. The center consolidates the hospital’s cancer services into one location.
Regional Marketing and PR Manager Catherine Sivills said the project aimed to redirect services to improve the patient experience. "It's going to have all of those services in one place so when a patient is dropped off, whether it's chemo or radiation, lab results, physician appointments or any other scans or things that they have to have, they can park in one location and get those things done and not have to navigate our campus."
The center employs medical and radiation oncologists and surgeons and includes a staff of 24 (nurses, therapists, dosimetrists, physicists, patient navigators and social workers). Another oncologist will soon join the center.
Sivills said the aesthetic goal was to create a 'soothing atmosphere' that includes large windows, gardens and artwork from cancer survivors. Some of this, she said, comes from feedback from survivors. According to a release, new features include valet parking, more centralized treatment, a resource center and space for teleconferences, support groups and counseling.
Construction began in 2015. A second phase renovating the adjoining radiation therapy suites will be completed later this year. Sivills said the space currently occupied by cancer treatment services will be repurposed.
Public open house and tours are Wednesday, June 28, from 2 to 3 p.m. for cancer patients and their families; and 3 to 5 p.m. for everyone.
This story has been updated.
