Abington-Jefferson to start work on $75M outpatient cancer center

Abington-Jefferson Health will break ground Monday for its long-planned, $75 million outpatient cancer center at its Willow Grove, Pa., campus.

The 82,000-square-foot facility, which will be known as the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion, is expected to open in 2017.

Abington Memorial Hospital joined Jefferson Health to create Abington-Jefferson Health. The merger will allow Abington to integrate new cancer pavilion with the National Cancer Institute-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

According to the health system, more than 90,000 residents of Abington’s service area have been diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes — and will require continued care and screening.

The pavilion will provide chemotherapy and radiation therapy services, have a dedicated oncology pharmacy and provide easy access to adjacent services available on the campus.

The outpatient center will also feature large walls of windows for outdoor views and natural light, gardens and walking paths, a café serving healthy foods, resource areas for families and patients, and a community space for support groups and healing therapies.

Abington Memorial Hospital received $3 million state grant for the cancer center project in 2014.

The lead gift for the hospital's "Reimagine Cancer Campaign," was the $5 million donation from the children of the late Carl Asplundh and late Emilie Asplundh. Carl and his brothers founded the Willow Grove-based Asplundh Tree Expert Co. in 1928. The international company specializes in tree pruning and vegetation management for utilities and government agencies.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal