(Rutherford County, TN) Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford today announced construction of a multi-story, multi-specialty medical office building that will house a new cancer center in partnership with Tennessee Oncology on the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford campus. The $60 million dollar project is set to begin in 2023.

The patient journey has been carefully designed with input from patients, families, physicians, and caregivers. The design includes convenient access to the five-story parking garage that broke ground in November 2022 as part of an additional $110 million facility development investment at the main hospital campus set for completion in 2024. Together, these investments will strengthen campus infrastructure for providing specialized and higher-acuity services for residents of Rutherford and surrounding counties.

The Ascension Saint Thomas Cancer Center, housed within the medical office building, will offer patients high-level clinical medicine combining surgical, medical and radiation cancer care specialists together under one roof. New technology investments will be focused on cancer prevention, detection and treatment. As part of the focus on a holistic, cost-effective approach to care, enhanced services will include access to nutritionists, social workers, and navigators to provide coordinated clinical and concierge service for patients. 

Mammography services in partnership with Premier Radiology will be conveniently offered inside the 102,000-square foot freestanding building. Premier Radiology is Middle Tennessee’s largest freestanding outpatient imaging center network offering patients more affordable care for X-rays, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography scans and other diagnostic studies.   

Tennessee Oncology is one of the largest oncology practices in the country, as well as a highly respected advocate in clinical trials and development of emerging therapies. With 30 centers across 3 states, Tennessee Oncology is an industry leader in providing value-based care and clinically proven services that benefit patients and their loved ones during cancer’s most stressful and difficult times.

“Tennessee Oncology has had the privilege of serving Rutherford County cancer patients for nearly 30 years. Our long-valued partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford inspires our commitment to the delivery of the most advanced cancer treatments and therapies,” said Dr. Natalie Dickson, president and CSO, Tennessee Oncology. “This new patient-centered facility will further establish Murfreesboro as a true cancer care destination. We are fortunate to have the country’s leading physicians, care teams and staff, and an inspiring partner in Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford.”

“Cancer impacts more than 1.7 million Americans annually. We want to reimagine cancer prevention and care to make screenings and treatment more convenient for the many individuals right here in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County who have been or will be affected,” said Gordon Ferguson, president and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. “We are honored to partner with the innovators at Tennessee Oncology in a shared goal of fighting cancer in our community.” 

About Ascension Saint Thomas - Ascension Saint Thomas operates 12 hospitals in Tennessee and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 45-county area and provided more than $180 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2022. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its affiliates employ more than 10,700 associates. The health system has a 125-year history in Tennessee. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable, through its more than 2,600 sites of care in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

About Tennessee Oncology - Tennessee Oncology, PLLC is one of the nation’s leading teams of cancer care specialists, nationally recognized for improving patient outcomes and driving quality of life innovation. Our comprehensive range of cancer care services includes specialized oncology nursing care, laboratory services, pharmacy, outpatient chemotherapy, PET/CT services, palliative care, patient and family education and financial support services. Founded in 1976, our unique vision, introducing patient-driven care with a clinical trial focus, propelled Tennessee Oncology to lead one of the largest, physician-owned, community oncology practices in the country. Currently, over 100 physicians in more than 30 locations, share the privilege of serving adult cancer patients from South Central Kentucky through Middle Tennessee to Northwest Georgia. For a complete list of physicians, locations and services please visit: www.tnoncology.com.

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