State-of-the-Art Facility Will Deliver Comprehensive Cancer Care for Patients
At a groundbreaking ceremony held on March 18, 2015, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) announced a new state-of-the-art cancer facility. The 45,000 square foot, $10 million project will be located at 6420 West Newberry Road, adjacent to the Cancer Center.
FCS leaders and physicians Peter Acs, MD, Andres Bhatia, MD, Manuel de la Puerta, MD, Laura Dickerson, MD and Lucio Gordan, MD donned hard hats and shoveled the first sections of dirt for the new facility, which is scheduled to open Spring 2016.
Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is the largest independent medical oncology/hematology practice in the United States with over 170 physicians, 120 nurse practitioners and physician assistants and over 80 locations in their network. FCS offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida.
The new building will connect to The Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Healthcare (NFRH) and will more than double the size of the current FCS office. The new facility utilizes principles of Evidence-Based Design (EBD), which focuses on ways that design can improve patient care and medical outcomes. For instance – using colors, materials, lighting, and process planning to reduce stress for both patients and staff, thereby improving outcomes.
The growing FCS practice will work closely with NFRH and North Florida Radiation Oncology to provide comprehensive services situated in a convenient central location.
Dr. William Harwin, Founder and President of FCS, said, “The healthcare industry is placing more emphasis on a patient-centric delivery model that includes higher quality and better located facilities. In conjunction with our partners at North Florida Radiation Oncology and The Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Healthcare, we will be able to offer patients the utmost in functional, modern space and cutting-edge technologies. We are committed to setting a new standard in cancer treatment and demonstrating the true power of what community oncology can be.”
FCS CEO Bradley Prechtl added, “This new comprehensive cancer center is another example of our commitment to serving and supporting our patients in communities, both large and small, throughout Florida. This facility will bring a wide range of treatments and services all under one roof, optimizing convenience for our patients in the Gainesville community.”
Dr. Lucio Gordan said, “We see an average of 250 patients per day in our current office. This new facility will increase our ability to offer unique, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary oncology treatments in a more comfortable and convenient setting so that we can deliver personalized cancer therapies and provide renewed hope to an even greater number of cancer patients. This approach, coupled with our cutting-edge clinical trials program, allows us to bring to our patients the most up to date cancer treatments available.”
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute offers a full range of oncology and hematology services, including clinical research and the use of evidence-based medicine and proactive patient support services. FCS is a strategic site of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, one of the largest and most respected community-based clinical trial organizations in the United States.
Future plans within the building include the addition of a Wellness Center in the same building offering integrative oncology therapies consisting of oncolytic massage, acupuncture, nutrition, cancer rehabilitation and other related treatment options.