University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center Opens: First Cancer Hospital in Northeast Ohio Offers Nation's Most Advanced Technology and Treatments

CLEVELAND, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center, Northeast Ohio's first and only freestanding cancer hospital, opens to patients on June 6. The ten-story, 150-bed cancer hospital will house the latest cancer-fighting treatments and technology – all in a patient-centered, healing-focused environment.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110606/CL13806 )

The $260 million, 375,000-square-foot hospital is named for Jane and Lee Seidman in honor of their $42 million gift to UH in November 2010. One of 12 freestanding cancer hospitals in the country that are part of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UH Seidman Cancer Center consolidates all inpatient and outpatient cancer services on the UH Case Medical Center campus in Cleveland's University Circle.

"The Seidman Cancer Center will truly transform cancer care in Northeast Ohio and beyond," says Nathan Levitan, MD, President of the UH Seidman Cancer Center. "This state-of-the-art hospital brings a wealth of diagnostic and treatment technologies under one roof to provide the nation's most advanced cancer care."

Highlights of the technologically advanced UH Seidman Cancer Center include:

• Comprehensive imaging technology, including a hybrid PET/MRI (Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging), one of four in the world, which will generate enhanced digital images to pinpoint precise tumor locations.
• Operating room with 3 Tesla intra-operative MRI suite which enables surgeons to obtain real-time images during procedures to reduce the need for re-operation.
• More than 300 clinical trials offering patients access to the latest treatments first.
• Radiation Oncology Center provides a full array of cutting-edge radiation therapy technologies.
• Outpatient clinical care, housed in the Robinson Family Pavilion, provides multidisciplinary cancer clinics for 11 subspecialty cancer areas.
• Four inpatient floors, dedicated to medical oncology, surgical oncology and women's oncology, featuring all private rooms with overnight accommodations for families.

The UH Seidman Cancer Center is part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center based at Case Western Reserve University.

The UH Seidman Cancer Center has been carefully planned with significant input from patients and their families to create a healing-focused environment. The patient- and family-centered design features inpatient exercise areas, extensive patient education areas, abundant natural light and lively and whimsical artwork. To connect patients with the healing power of nature, the facility will have stunning glassed-in areas that overlook the Mary and Al Schneider Healing Garden, which features sloping walkways, meditation areas and numerous plant species.

"The new Seidman Cancer Center is one of an elite group of hospitals in the nation totally dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer," says Stan Gerson, MD, Director of the UH Seidman Cancer Center, Director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "Cancer affects every aspect of a patient's life and our new cancer hospital combines leading-edge therapies with remarkable amenities and design features to enhance the patient experience."

For more information, go to www.UHSeidman.org

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians.  At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center.  The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org

SOURCE University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center