$110 Million Cancer Center Launches Detroit Campus Expansion

DETROIT – Henry Ford Health System announced plans today to build a $110 million cancer center as part of a $500 million expansion and neighborhood improvement initiative on 300 acres in Detroit, marking another key development in the city’s revitalization and growth.

The planned five-story, 144,000 square-foot cancer center will include a rooftop garden and skywalk to connect it to Henry Ford Hospital. Opening is expected in summer 2018.

With ambulatory cancer treatment and support services under one roof, the new facility will make cancer care more comfortable and convenient for patients, families and seniors with a design that focuses on their emotional and physical needs through:

• Express cancer services via a cancer-specific urgent care, and extended weekday and weekend hours of care
• Cancer-type specific physicians and other specialists working together on the same floor, including radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgical services
• Expanded patient concierge services, nurse navigators, financial navigators and palliative care
• On-site exercise, fitness and nutrition planning, with exercise bikes in chemotherapy infusion areas, as well as yoga/eastern medicine programs, nutrition coaches and cooking classes
• Dedicated personal spaces for lounging and computer access
• Retail cancer services, including expanded aesthetics and personal care items, and food services directed to the tastes of cancer patients and meeting their home food needs.

The center will incorporate technology as well as clinical and translational research that patients seek in a destination center, including:

• Greater integration of translational research programs into the clinical setting
• Support for components of clinical research necessary as research moves into the next era of personal and precision medicine
• Dedicated space where patients can speak with research nurses about clinical trial opportunities

“We’re creating a world-class cancer facility supporting the expertise of the Henry Ford Medical Group in the care of cancer patients,” says Henry Ford Hospital President and CEO John Popovich Jr., M.D.

“The facility will be modern in its technology and, most importantly, address the physical and emotional needs of our cancer patients by offering greater flexibility with their care, and expanded support services for the duration of their disease.”

By consolidating cancer care services currently located across multiple sites on the Henry Ford Hospital campus in Detroit, Dr. Popovich says the new center will provide care in a more seamless, coordinated and healing environment.

The new cancer center will anchor Henry Ford Hospital’s South Campus expansion project, located on 300 acres south of W. Grand Blvd. and north of I-94.

Along with the cancer center, the project’s 10-15 year vision includes green space, commercial, retail and housing development in an area that not too long ago resembled desolate fields and crumbling industrial structures. Within the 300-acre neighborhood, Henry Ford will invest in roughly 30 acres, and continue to work to attract businesses, like Cardinal Health, and other developments to the area.

“We’re very excited about Henry Ford’s commitment to this new project in Detroit,” says Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “It’s not only paved the way for new development in the city, but eliminated blight by demolishing 100 vacant structures throughout the 300 acre neighborhood.”

This summer, the $30 million Cardinal Health Distribution Center opened on the site with 100 employees. Henry Ford was instrumental in attracting Cardinal Health to create a new regional hub in Detroit, and performed crucial pre-planning work on the site such as land assembly, city approvals and obtaining cleanup funds.

“With more than 100 years in the city, we’re thrilled to be moving into our next century in Detroit with a project that symbolizes optimism for the future and the promise of continued economic renewal,” says Henry Ford Health System CEO Nancy Schlichting.

In Detroit and beyond, the need for cancer care is expected to continue to grow

• During the past 8 years, Henry Ford’s cancer volume increased 16 percent for outpatient services and 31 percent for inpatient services
• The incidence of cancer in the U.S. is predicted to increase about 20 percent in the next 10 years, and 40 percent over the next 20 years, according to the Institute of Medicine
• In the Detroit region alone, cancer incidence is projected to increase in the next five years by 20 percent for gastrointestinal, 18 percent for gynecologic, 10 percent for colorectal and 8 percent for thoracic cancers

Henry Ford Health System has one of the largest cancer programs in Michigan, providing care at four hospitals and four outpatient treatment facilities. Approximately 5,500 new cancer patients are treated annually at Henry Ford.

Henry Ford’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer management incorporates a team of the world’s best surgeons, researchers and other cancer experts from 20 specialties to fight a variety of cancers.

The cancer center will serve as the anchor for Henry Ford’s cancer network of facilities. This approach ensures that patients have access to cancer treatments close to home, while providing the most advanced care available in the world in an integrated network.

Clinical and support services for each type of cancer diagnosis will be located on the same floor in the new facility, offering convenience and a true multidisciplinary care experience to patients. Surgery will continue to be performed at Henry Ford Hospital.

Site planning for the new cancer facility is expected to be completed by the end of the year; groundbreaking is anticipated for spring 2016. The facility will be funded by internal and philanthropic support.

Learn more about the new cancer center.