photo by: LMH Health

This rendering shows the renovation of the LMH Health Cancer Center.

LMH Health is opening the doors of its newly renovated Cancer Center this month and is offering a chance for the community to tour the new clinic.

The facility has been under construction and renovation for a year. The clinic, meant to address the increasing need for cancer care in the community, will be open on July 14, and community members can have a look around on July 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at 330 Arkansas St.

LMH Health oncologists and hematologists support more than 19,000 patient encounters each year, but the limited space was built in 2001 to serve only 2,400 patients, according to a press release from LMH Health.

“I’m proud to say that cancer patients have always been able to find outstanding oncology and hematology care at our hospital,” Jodie Barr, an oncologist at LMH, said in the release “The Cancer Center is home to many clinical trials, high-risk and genetic screening, nurse navigators, a survivorship program and so much more.”

Improvements to the clinic include more treatment and exam rooms; a larger waiting room; an expanded laboratory area; patient education and consultation rooms; a dedicated family lounge area; modern pharmacy space to support complex infusion medications and more. The expansion and renovation received more than $7.2 million in gifts from donors, foundations and community partners, the release said.

In addition, in August, Precision Cancer Care and its radiation oncology staff will become part of the LMH Cancer Center to create a fully integrated cancer program. This integration will combine medical and radiation oncology under one roof, and patients are expected to benefit from streamlined scheduling and coordinated care.

The partnership also supports more opportunities for clinical trials through the statewide Masonic Cancer Alliance, which LMH participates in.

“There is a lot of benefit to joining forces with LMH Health, including the additional confidence it imparts to patients who are deciding where to get care,” Darren Klish, an oncologist at LMH, said in the press release. “Patients will have the simplicity of one bill and the ability to participate in clinical trials. I’m really happy this partnership has come together and I’m excited to be part of it.”