The Nevada Cancer Institute has broken ground on an expansion aimed at accommodating its growing patient volume.
Construction began mid-August at the 1 Breakthrough Way facility. Sandra Murdock, president and chief operating officer, said that the increase in the number of patients was largely because the institute has been recruiting nationally recognized oncologists, who in turn attract patients.
"Their reputations are bringing patients in," she said.
The addition will mean 5,000 square feet of new lab space. The facility currently has 28,889 square feet devoted to laboratories.
When completed, the construction will add three new labs, bringing the total to 12.
"Lab space is a crucial component of the recruiting process," Murdock said.
The facility also aims to increase its faculty to 80 members by 2012, with an emphasis on clinical research. It currently has 25 faculty members, who include physicians and researchers.
"We have ongoing recruitment for oncologists," said Murdock. "These are physician/scientists involved in clinical research. In order to recruit on a national level, we have to offer them lab space, as well as clinical space."
The expansion also will create five more patient exam rooms, for a total of 14, to help handle increasing patient volume and new oncologists. The new configuration will be aimed at improving patient flow and allowing for a second nurses' station.
"With this new clinic modification, we hope to keep the patient waiting time to a minimum and continue to deliver the highest level of quality care possible," said Phillip Manno, chief of the department of clinical oncology and hematology services.
Since the institute's 142,000-square-foot building opened in September 2005, it has seen 2,000 new patients in its medical and radiation oncology divisions. In less than two years, patient visits, including diagnostic imaging, have totaled 125,000.
"The ultimate goal is to find a cure with a focus on the types of cancer we see most often in Nevada -- lung cancer and melanoma," Murdock said.
Marnell Corrao, who constructed the original building, is the contractor for the expansion project. Construction is expected to be completed this fall.
For more information, visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org.
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