Cancer center ready

By Teresa Stowell of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, October 4, 2005 2:41 PM CDT

The UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek, a joint community venture among UW Health, Fort HealthCare and Watertown Memorial Hospital, offers state-of-the-art cancer treatment, research and care for patients and families in a new, 14,300-square-foot facility. Partici-pants in a dedication ceremony this morning gather outside the center. (John Hart/Daily Times)

JOHNSON CREEK - UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek, a regional partner of the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, held a ribbon cutting ceremony today and began seeing cancer treatment patients Monday.

The 14,300-square-foot center is nestled among a wooded area off of Highway 26 and near Interstate 94 in Johnson Creek.

The joint community partnership project including UW Health, Watertown Memorial Hospital and Fort HealthCare, began over two years ago and was designed to bring patients and families in the area local access to research and treatment.

The center was inspired by the two local hospitals and the academic medical center which were seeking a better way to meet patients needs while addressing increasing cost pressures.

"This is a unique situation," John Kosanovich, CEO of Watertown Memorial Hospital said. "We're working together in collaboration instead of in competition."

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Kosanovich said over 600 people in the Watertown and Fort Atkinson areas are diagnosed with some form of cancer each year. Formerly, all cancer patients would have to travel to Madison or Milwaukee to receive treatments.

"It's going to save people a lot of time and a lot of hassle," he said. "I've had a number of patients who have even foregone treatment because of the traveling. Often they'd need 20 to 30 days of treatment. Traveling every day to Madison adds up fast."

At UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek medical and radiation oncology specialists will be providing cancer care, including chemotherapy and will have access to clinical trials. The facility uses the latest in radiation therapy with laser-like precision in a room surrounded by eight feet of cement.

Lynda Persico, center director, said when designing the building the idea was to bring nature in and make it a comfortable environment for patients. The waiting room faces the wooded area that surrounds the facility and is lined from ceiling to floor with windows looking out onto the changing fall colors. The center is only noticeable from Highway 26 by a tall sign that stands on the edge of the hill and above the tree-tops.

"We have the state-of-the art capabilities here, but we also want patients to be comfortable," Persico said. "The nature aspect of the facility follows throughout the building and was an important aspect in the designing."

The center also features support groups and educational programs.

With a nature-themed environment the cancer center also works to provide hope for patients. Adorning the entrance of the center is a signed, framed poster of the Lance Armstrong Foundation Manifesto that was donated by the Armstrong Foundation to Dr. Laura Koenig, an internist at Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Fort Atkinson who gave it to the center.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong in 1997, often provides items to display in cancer centers to encourage patients.

A grand opening of UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek, 250 Doctors Court, Johnson Creek, will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, from noon to 4 p.m. At the grand opening the public will be welcome to tour the facility, meet staff, learn more about cancer support services and say hello to Bucky Badger.

For more information about the center, visit www.uwjohnsoncreek.org.