Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is moving ahead with plans to develop a comprehensive cancer program with premier facilities that will offer services across the entire continuum of cancer care—from prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, to follow-up care, survivorship and support. The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board today approved $220 million to begin the first two phases of the “destination” cancer program to serve a growing number of cancer patients in southwest Florida. The initial phases of the master plan include building a new cancer inpatient and surgical tower on Sarasota Memorial’s main campus and a state-of-the-art outpatient radiation treatment center on its campus at University Parkway. A third phase that is not yet scheduled involves building a new cancer pavilion with a full complement of outpatient cancer care services on Waldemere Street, across from the main hospital, as well as extending the programs and services to SMH’s Laurel Road campus in south Sarasota County. Hospital leaders will spend the coming weeks evaluating and ranking architects, engineers and general contractors to design and build the first two facilities simultaneously over the next two to three years. SMH plans to host several community workshops and neighborhood meetings in the coming weeks to discuss plans with interested community members and residents who live in nearby neighborhoods, as well as begin meeting with city and regional planning officials.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System