Posted: 5/21/03

Ground breaks on Radiation Therapy Center in Wyoming

Construction is expected to begin next month on a new University of Minnesota Physicians Radiation Therapy Center at Fairvew Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming.

A symbolic groundbreaking last week heralded the beginning of changes at the hospital, which opened in 1998.

The change will bring convenience and enhance medical service for cancer patients here, offering radiation therapy using state-of-the-art equipment operated by University of Minnesota Physicians staff.

ìCancer patients have enough stress without the added burden of traveling long distances to receive their radiation therapy treatments,î said Kathryn Dusenbery, M.D., radiation oncologist and chairwoman of the University of Minnesotaís Department of Therapeutic Radiology.

ìThis is an excellent opportunity for cancer patients to receive the latest in radiation therapy treatment without the inconvenience of traveling too far beyond their hometowns,î she said.

Equipment

In addition to a full-time radiation oncologist and other health care professionals, three main pieces of equipment will benefit patients.

ïA Computerized Tomography CT Simulator óused to accurately identify critical structures and organs in the body, images allow the radiation oncologist to see the exact location of the cancer in a patientís body and design individualized radiation treatment.

ïTreatment Planning Computer ó computer program assists oncologist in designing treatment arrangements to maximize radiation dose to the tumor and spare surrounding normal structures, visualizes tumor and critical structures from all angles combining advanced graphics from the CT simulator with advanced 3-D capability.

ï Linear Acceleratoróused to deliver radiation treatments to patients, equipped with portal imaging technology and computer controlled multi-leaf collimators for shielding of normal tissues.

Collaborators

Mortenson is the developer and design builder for the one-story building to be constructed on the campus of Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming. Mortenson also built the main hospital building.

Since the new building will be constructed in part of the existing parking lot, construction of a temporary parking area will begin this week before construction on the new building likely begins after Memorial Day weekend.

The main leaser of the building will be University of Minnesota Physicians Radiation Therapy, which will occupy 10,000 square feet of the 15,000 square foot building. Fairview Lakes Oncology Services will occupy 2640 square feet. About 2000 square feet remains unleased.

The building is a joint venture between the University of Minnesota, Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center and the community. About 400 patients are expected to receive radiation therapy at the new facility each year.

The exterior of the building will complement the existing structure and will be made of brick, glass and plaster. The completion date is scheduled for December.

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