DETROIT, MI – The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, announced on July 23 that it plans to open in a month its 15th Michigan treatment location at McLaren Oakland in Pontiac.

Margaret Dimond, President and CEO of McLaren Oakland said, “McLaren Oakland will soon be home to a new 21-bed inpatient state-of-the art oncology unit. Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of the nation’s top cancer centers and, as one of the newest Karmanos sites, we are pleased to provide an advanced level of care to our patients,” Dbusiness.com reported.

A complete renovation of the hospital’s west tower 6th floor is a strategic investment with a total cost of about $14 million for McLaren Health Care which acquired Karmanos in 2013.

“Opening an oncology unit brings us closer to our strategic goal of setting new standards of health care for the community and our patients,” said Dimond, Dbusiness.com reported. “We are committed to providing exceptional inpatient cancer care to those requiring surgery or hospitalization for disease complications.”

“An oncologic surgical center is being created for cancer surgeries and procedures,” Dbusiness.com reported, adding that “it will include collaboration with Karmanos’ main academic treatment and research campus in Detroit, along with surgical and gynecology oncology programs in Flint, Farmington Hills, and Bay City.”

The updated facilities will include patients’ rooms with single beds for privacy; areas for family to wait and also sleep; rooms for an intensive care unit and step-down unit staffed with clinicians specializing in critical care; and an acute care center so patients can avoid emergency room visits, Dbusiness.com reported.

Dr. Justin Klamerus, President of Karmanos Cancer Hospital and Network. Photo: Courtesy of Karmanos Cancer Institute

Karmanos’ Lawrence and Idell Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center in Farmington Hills will also undergo a $47.5 million renovation, so that the locations in Detroit, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, and Pontiac can provide the coordinated services to patients. Hematologic oncologists Dr. Jeffrey Margolis and Dr. Adil Akhtar will lead the new inpatient oncology unit with a team of physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and social workers.

Dr. Justin F. Klamerus, President of Karmanos Cancer Hospital said, “Dr. Margolis and Dr. Akhtar are highly regarded clinicians who we welcome to Karmanos Cancer Institute. Karmanos looks forward to close collaboration to build service offerings in the region. The Karmanos network currently operates 14 treatment locations in Michigan. All of our centers undergo rigorous quality reviews, and our providers are certified members of the cancer program. Each of our facilities work together to develop evidence-based care guidelines and best practices to enhance the care we provide for our patients,” Dbusiness.com reported.

Margaret Dimond, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Oakland. Photo: Courtesy of Karmanos Cancer Institute

He added, “The strategy behind the expansion of our cancer network throughout the state of Michigan is focused squarely on improving access to the best cancer care and research available today.”

Dr. Margolis noted that patients will have greater access to Karmanos’ clinical trials for additional treatment options, Dbusiness.com reported, adding that “Karmanos has one of the nation’s largest clinical trials programs, where the latest cancer-fighting drugs are available years before other hospitals.”

In 1995, Greek-American businessman and philanthropist Peter J. Karmanos donated $15 million to the cancer center, which was renamed for his wife, Barbara Ann, who passed away from breast cancer in 1989 at the age of 46.