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Why St. Luke's Needs a New Facility in Nampa for Cancer Care
Since opening in Nampa in 1991, St. Luke’s has provided cancer care in the same 20,000-square-foot building. Although this location has served us well, it’s time for an upgrade.
The level of service and care remains high, and St. Luke’s continues to be the preferred choice for high-quality cancer care. We want to keep it that way. But our dedicated team faces ever-growing challenges to provide patients with the care they need and deserve — particularly considering the increase in the number of patients we serve and the advanced requirements of modern cancer treatment.
Twenty-five years ago, our Nampa facility was built to care for 8,300 patients. Today, it cares for twice that. Providers are double booked, and there is no additional space to hire more even though an additional 3,000 patients are expected by 2020.
That’s why we’re expanding and relocating St. Luke's Cancer Institute to St. Luke’s Nampa Medical Center. The new cancer center will almost double the size of our current center, allowing St. Luke’s to offer new or expanded programs such as psychiatry, survivorship services, spiritual care, nutritional counseling, rehabilitation and acupuncture and St. Luke’s first integrated physical therapy gym for cancer patients. We’ll also expand participation in clinical research.
But the new building is about so much more than space. It will provide our cancer patients with the latest in cancer care, more privacy and tranquility. Currently, patients receive care in ten chemotherapy chairs all in one small space with no outside view. The new chemo infusion suite will have room for 20 chairs including four private infusion rooms and one semi-private room, all surrounded by a 2nd story view of Idaho’s wonderful scenery. The natural elements help to promote healing and patient well-being. With updated technology, a new linear accelerator will allow St. Luke’s to treat more types of cancers with greater precision and in a much shorter time for patients.
The St. Luke’s Nampa campus will offer health services in one central location that better serves a larger population and is more inclusive of communities like Caldwell, Middleton and Star. Cancer patients can conveniently connect to medical services and more specialties at the main hospital, leading to more efficient, collaborative and coordinated care. That matters when you consider cancer patients tend to be some of the sickest due to the nature of oncology.
An Urgent Need
At our current Nampa facility, we are experiencing higher demand for care, which is only expected to increase with the anticipated population growth in Canyon County. Our Nampa oncologists are among the busiest at all five St. Luke’s Cancer Institute sites.
Our space is too small. A consulting study recommended that we double our chemotherapy bays, add provider exam space and space for other strategic growth areas including social work, telehealth and research. Unfortunately, our current building footprint doesn’t allow for expansion and is not central to Canyon County’s population growth.
- 8,300 - Number of patient visits per year for which our existing space was built
- 16,000 - Number of patient visits we currently see each year
- 19,000 - Number of patient visits we expect to see each year by 2020
Our aging building needs extensive repairs. Major repairs and updates are needed to critical systems to maintain stability of chemotherapy drugs, ensure the integrity of the laboratory and the operation of the linear accelerator (used for radiation therapy).
We need to modernize. This includes updates to equipment and technology, such as our linear accelerator for radiation therapy, as well as upgrades to spaces and systems, such as our clinic pharmacy.
Basic Facts
- Square feet = 42,000 over two stories; more than double the size of the current facility
- Medical oncology exam rooms = 15 (currently only 6)
- Radiation oncology exam rooms = 9 (currently only 3)
- Chemo infusion suite – 2nd floor with 15 open chairs, 4 private infusion rooms and 1 semi-private room; will bring in lovely views of Idaho and natural elements to promote healing and patient well-being.
- Fundraising goal - $500,000, $375,000 of that before construction begins (current amount is $299,000)
- Total cost = $29.3 million
Additional Special Features
- Latest technology linear accelerator with beautiful customized “window” scenery to bring the outdoors into the treatment space.
- New CT simulator
- Integrated medicine services including acupuncture, massage and an oncology integrated physical therapy gym, which will be the first for St. Luke’s
- Lab/phlebotomy draw room that will utilize the services of the hospital lab via pneumatic tube for processing
- In-house oncology pharmacy
- Additional in-clinic services: nutrition counseling, genetic counseling, social work, spiritual care, nurse navigation, and survivorship
- Dedicated space for staff retreat and decompression from the stress of oncology care
- Main-level conference room that opens into an outdoor healing garden
Important Dates
- Groundbreaking = 2020
- Target opening = Spring/Summer 2021
Make a Donation to Support St. Luke's Cancer Institute in Nampa
You Can Make a Difference
St. Luke's has committed to raising $500,000 for new cancer care center at St. Luke's Nampa. Thanks to community donors, including St. Luke's employees, physicians, and board members, we're already well on our way and more than halfway to that goal. Now, we need you.
Please consider giving the most meaningful gift you can by donating online or contacting St. Luke's Health Foundation.