The Wayne State University Karmanos Cancer Institute announced yesterday that it has acquired its clinical facilities from the Detroit Medical Center, effective May 1, 2005. The agreement includes inpatient and outpatient cancer facilities on the medical center's main campus as well as the Lawrence & Idell Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center, in Farmington Hills.
"The outstanding faculty, who represent nearly all of the Karmanos physicians, will be the driving factor in the success of this new, independent initiative," said medical school Dean John Crissman. "The quality of the physicians will ensure the evolution of KCI into one of the country's premier comprehensive cancer centers."
The DMC and Karmanos Cancer Institute have jointly managed the cancer facilities since 1994. The boards of the institutions believed that independent ownership would allow the facilities to thrive and also create new opportunities for philanthropic investment in Karmanos Cancer Institute's programs and services.
Specifically, the institute is purchasing cancer hospital space on the fifth, eighth, ninth and 10th floors of Harper University Hospital's Webber North wing as well as outpatient clinical service that includes the Vic Wertz Clinical Cancer Center, Alexander J. Walt Comprehensive Breast Center, the adjoining atrium area, connecting structures and associated office areas. The hospital space includes 122 licensed beds.
The institute will lease the space it occupies in the Harper Professional Office Building and obtain rights to the adjacent surface parking lot facing John R, where a new, $47 million clinical cancer center is planned as part of renovation and construction work to begin next year. The new facility will house six operating rooms and a cancer-specific diagnostic imaging center. In the meantime, the institute will continue to use the DMC's operating rooms, diagnostic imaging and other services.
The two institutions have agreed to a long-term lease for the Gershonson Radiation Oncology Center. The institute will lease the readiology equipment therein, including two linear accelerators, a Gamma Knife and a total body irradiator with the intent to purchase these assets in the future. The institute will also lease with the intent to purchase the Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center, an outpatient facility built in Oakland County in 2001.
In addition, the institute is purchasing the first and second floors of the Hudson Webber Cancer Research Center and will lease space for employee and patient parking in the DMC's north parking deck, adjacent to the cancer hospital.
"The future of cancer research and patient care in Michigan is brighter, and the Detroit Medical Center is healthier today as a result of an agreement reached between the boards of the DMC and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. This new partnership will further cement the research and clinical affiliations of both organizations with Wayne State University and its School of Medicine," Dr. Crissman, Karmanos President John Ruckdeschel and DMC CEO Mike Duggan wrote in a joint letter.