Construction Notice: The west entrance of the Talbot Professional Center (near the fountain and steps) is closed for building maintenance. Detours are marked. Please build in extra time for appointments. We apologize for the inconvenience.
A cancer diagnosis is frightening for anyone. Among the questions that patients and their families wrestle with is how to find the best care and whether that care is accessible to them. For many residents of South King County, traveling to Seattle for cancer care is simply not an option—especially for frequent appointments or for infusion treatments that can last several hours per session. Even those who can afford the time and transportation costs are better served when they can get treatment closer to home, at an institution they know and trust, with family and friends by their side.
Valley has built a strong cancer care program that has significantly outgrown its current capacity and out of necessity is scattered throughout the Valley campus. Care coordination has become increasingly difficult, with providers located in different areas of the hospital and in separate clinics; patients have to experience the added stress of going to multiple locations on campus for their testing, care, and treatment. A single facility will provide more research opportunities, better caregiver collaboration, ease of patient stress and an improved experience.
We are very excited to announce that the Facilities, Finance & Audit Committee of Valley’s Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to amend the FY24 budget, increasing the capital budget by $10 million for Valley’s future Cancer Center. This signals the first major new investment made into expanding oncology services at Valley since before the beginning of the pandemic. “COVID wreaked havoc on our financial position and I’m happy to say we are finally able to start planning for the future again. Cancer is the #1 diagnosis in our hospital district and oncology cases continue to rise, so it makes sense that our first major investment since the pandemic would be our future Cancer Center,” explains Valley CEO, Jeannine Erickson Grinnell.
This $10M paired with the recent $1.8M gift by Valley Girls & Guys, a local nonprofit bringing HOPE to patients of all cancer types, allows Valley to begin Phase One of the Cancer Center, which includes a 41-bay infusion center, compounding pharmacy, reception and fast track area, laboratory, and the Trapper & Samantha Wellbeing Support Center.
Thanks to these funds, along with other community donations, Phase 1A funding is nearly complete and construction on the space will begin in 2024. Phase 1B (Oncology & Hematology Clinic, Multidisciplinary Clinic, and Café) and Phase 2 (Radiation Oncology) will follow and will cost approximately $45M. When the center is complete, it will offer cutting-edge cancer care in one central location, with only the rarest and most complex cases being referred elsewhere.
Our campaign for the new Cancer Center builds on Valley’s financial strength, legacy of trust within the community, and reputation for delivering compassionate care. Our community takes tremendous pride in having an excellent hospital close to home that provides exceptional services to address any medical need. Cancer is the leading cause of illness within our public hospital district, so consolidating and expanding cancer services is critical.
We invite you to join in and invest in a healthier future for an entire community—a community that reflects increasing vibrancy and diversity, as well as the challenges of population growth and economic disparities. Donors who share our vision of an innovative cancer center for South King County residents are stepping forward to make this a reality. Join them!