This new $237 million center aims to transform cancer treatment in the Peoria area

PEORIA – Designed to provide downstate Illinois with a one-stop location for cutting-edge cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, OSF HealthCare’s Cancer Institute is slated to open in late February.

The $237 million center is expected to have a substantial impact on the local economy. It will draw patients not only from surrounding counties, but also from surrounding states, and medical personnel are relocating to central Illinois to fill jobs at the center.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Cancer Institute.

When will the new OSF cancer center open?

Workers are finishing up construction both inside and outside the facility, and the center will begin serving patients the week of Feb. 22. The proton beam is expected to be online March 4.

The public can get a glimpse of the new center during an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 17.

How much did the facility cost and when did construction begin? 

Planning for the $237 million Cancer Institute began in 2014, and ground was broken in August of 2021. The topping off ceremony, when the last structural beam was placed, was held in April 2022.

What is proton therapy and who will use it?

Proton therapy delivers a very precise dose of radiation to cancerous tumors. It’s typically used on tumors surrounded by organs that could be damaged by radiation. Not every cancer is a candidate for treatment with the proton beam, but for patients who need it there are often few other choices.

“We are currently sending about 150 patients out of Peoria each year for proton therapy — and those are the ones that actually went, because when you get proton therapy, you are at that location for four or five weeks getting treatment Monday through Friday every day, and that’s difficult for people to do far from home. Some people like to get alternative treatments," said Robert Anderson, CEO of OSF HealthCare. “Having this here will allow those patients and more to be seen. When we are at full capacity, we expect to see 25 patients a day.”

OSF’s proton beam machine will be one of about 40 currently being used across the U.S.

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Why is it taking so long to install the proton beam machine?

Weighing 101 tons, OSF’s proton beam was built in Germany by Varian Medical Systems. It was shipped to a port in Maryland and trucked to Peoria, where it arrived with much fanfare in October 2022.

The machine needs to be firmly positioned so it doesn’t move even a fraction of an inch during treatment. Installation has taken more than a year. Many tons of concrete were used to anchor the machine and build thick baffles around it to keep radiation from escaping during use.

What other technology and services will be available at the Cancer Institute?

The latest technology for administering brachytherapy and chemotherapy will be available at the center, along with state-of-the art imaging equipment. Doctors will confer in the tumor board room that contains a huge high-definition video screen to show medical imaging. Video screens will also be in conference rooms when patients meet with doctors so that out-of-town relatives and physicians can participate virtually in the meeting.

Along with new technology, administrators have been designing protocols and services to provide the best experience for patients, said Tom Cox, vice president of oncology services for OSF HealthCare.

"We have about 50 work teams currently working on patient experience, from parking your car to coming in and getting imagery, or taking part in a multidisciplinary clinic, or seeing our physicians," Cox said. "On the third floor, we have a medical oncology practice, a head and neck practice, a gynecological surgery practice, and a surgical oncology practice. On the second floor we’ve got an infusion center, and we’ve got all of our supportive services in our multi-disciplinary clinics. On the first floor is all our diagnostics, and the lower level is rehab, so we can help you stay as active as possible during and after treatment. All of these people came together for about the last year, planning out the processes for this building, and really building the culture that we want - where you come into this building and every employee is advocating for you and your family.”

While technology is at the forefront of the new institute, holistic elements have also been incorporated. A glass-enclosed teaching kitchen occupies space in the building foyer, showcasing the work of dietitians as they show patients how to prepare food to nourish and heal them on their journey.

The healing effects of nature are also prominent in the center’s design. A terraced healing garden takes up almost as much space as the building, and is visible through windows throughout much of the building.

“There are water features, there are reflective areas and meditative spots. It’s gonna be beautiful,” Anderson said.

Will it be hard to navigate the new facility?

Administrators are working on new way-finding tools for people visiting the 40-acre OSF HealthCare medical campus in Peoria.

As part of that effort, all three parking garages are being renamed. The north deck will be renamed Deck A; the brand-new cancer center deck, which can hold 1,200 cars, will be called Deck B; and the Hillcrest deck, formerly Medipark 2, will become Deck C.

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How many people will be served by the Cancer Institute and what is the expected economic impact for Peoria?

“The Cancer Institute will really be a draw to Peoria, not just from our surrounding counties, but actually surrounding states,” Anderson said. “The technology we have available here is something not readily available elsewhere, so it will have a profound impact on our economy. We expect as many as 15,000 patients and support people each year, which will generate over 30,000 hotel visits and the associated restaurant and retail usage. Our conservative estimate is over a $1 billion impact over 10 years for the five-county area surrounding the Cancer Institute.”

Leslie Renken can be reached at (309) 370-5087 or lrenken@pjstar.com. Follow her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: New OSF Cancer Institute opening in February 2024 in Peoria