Allegheny Health Network Debuts $78 Million Cancer Center

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Highmark Health and the and Allegheny Health Network have opened a
90,000-square-foot, $78 million cancer center at Allegheny General Hospital on the North Side. The center will provide patients with access to leading-edge cancer treatments, while serving as the nucleus of cancer research, clinical trials and medical education for the AHN Cancer Institute.

The center is the anchor of Highmark Health’s and Allegheny Helath Network's more than $300 million investment to expand and enhance access to high-quality, innovative cancer care across the greater western Pennsylvania region. Over the past year and a half, AHN has opened new
comprehensive community cancer centers in Monroeville, Erie, Butler, Beaver and Westmoreland Counties. The Network has also renovated and expanded its cancer facilities in Robinson Township and at West Penn Hospital.

“About one in every two Pennsylvanians will be diagnosed with cancer during his or her lifetime. We believe that our investment in AHN Cancer Institute’s capabilities and capacity will greatly improve the experience and outcomes of those who are diagnosed with this disease,” David Holmberg, president and CEO of Highmark Health, said in a release.

“Our new flagship facility at AGH will be a beacon of hope for patients and their families, and a destination for the best and brightest oncology professionals who want to be part of the world-class program we have established.”

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.8 million new cancer cases – including 80,000 in Pennsylvania alone - are expected to be diagnosed in 2020, a two percent increase from 2015. In addition, the number of cancer survivors nationwide is expected to grow from 17 million today to 22 million in 2030. Pennsylvania alone is home to about 771,000 cancer survivors.

The new cancer center at AGH will provide an extensive spectrum of advanced clinical and support services for cancer patients, including:·

• State-of-the-art radiation oncology capabilities, such as the lateOAst generation Gamma Knife for treatment of brain cancer and other complex neurological conditions, and one of the first MRI linear accelerators in the United States, for treating solid tumors with high precision radiotherapy.
• A Gamma Pod system, a high precision technology designed specifically for the treatment of breast cancer. The system delivers highly precise, high dose radiation to breast tumors, significantly reducing treatment time and toxicity.
• Forty-eight infusion bays for chemotherapy another therapies, and 42 patient exam rooms with telemedicine capabilities.
• Personal navigators to guide every patient’s experience at the center.
• A conference suite for academic, scientific and clinical team collaborations.
• A positive image salon for women undergoing cancer treatment.
• Nutritional counseling, social services and financial counseling.
• Valet parking and comfortable accommodations for family members.