Flint, MI—The Karmanos Cancer Institute and the McLaren proton therapy center will see a $46 million expansion in the upcoming years.
The project will include a 13,800-square-foot-vertical expansion of the cancer center, a 7,200-square-foot expansion of the proton therapy center, development of a third proton therapy vault with two patient treatment spaces, and parking lot and entry improvements.
The proton therapy center is one of two in Michigan and one of the only centers in the world using advanced synchrotron technology, according to a news release. This technology delivers a high-energy, precise beam to diseased tissues and lowers the risk of radiation effects to the patient.
“With growing interest and patients seeking treatment from all corners of the state, increasing our capacity will allow us to serve more patients and decrease the wait period to begin proton therapy treatments. We are proud to be able to give more people access to proton therapy right here in Flint,” Hesham Gayar, medical director of the Proton Therapy Center, said.
With the recent addition of the Singh & Arora Oncology/Hematology practice at the Karmanos Cancer Center, patients will have access to three cancer treatment modalities under one roof, including surgical oncology and radiation oncology, and proton therapy.
“We are committed to serving the community by offering world-class cancer care right here in Genesee County,” Chris Candela said, president and CEO of McLaren Flint. “Being part of the Karmanos Cancer Network gives cancer patients improved access to new treatments close to home. This expansion allows us to provide more treatment options, grow our team of respected oncologists with trailblazing specialties, and provide care for more patients, saving them daily travel throughout the county or to Detroit for treatment.”
Groundbreaking is scheduled for the summer of 2022 with the first patient in the expanded cancer center expected in late 2023.
They can build a mental health facility up north, and expand Karmanos, but they can’t seem to keep their employees. Staffing levels at their hospital in Flint are CRITICAL. Nurses are caring for 2x the patients that they safely can, and they are sicker than they used to be. There is no incentive for anyone to pick up any extra shifts, because McLaren will no longer pay it. Even travel/agency nurses have left because of the conditions there.
Seems like a really poor time to do something like this.
I agree with the comment Beth made! It sickens me the lack of RN’s, staffing ratios, lack of ancillary staff, lack of supplies, lack of CARING from the corporation and upper management! Yet the corporation has no problem sinking millions of dollars into this and a new mental health facility in Chebogan, meanwhile the staff is stressed to the max, VERY unsafe conditions for patients and staff. The public needs to be made aware of what is really happening. The dollars spent on expanding the cooperation at this particular time, with the crisis of at least their Flint facility (I’m sure it’s the same at other facilities) borders on what should be criminal. They need to take care of what they already have, get them adequately staffed and running safely, then if you have money left over expand at that time
It seems funny to me the McLaren is actually a Corporation but is taxed as a non-profit. Interesting. Management needs to get it together and stop serving the Corporate dollar and start serving their employees and patients. Always the dollar with them.