Photo: Intermountain Health.

PARK CITY, Utah — Intermountain Park City Hospital celebrated the opening of its new cancer center on Aug. 20 with a ribbon-cutting and public tour.

The new Intermountain Health Park City Hospital Cancer Center will serve up to 1,500 patients annually with expanded space, high-tech equipment, and treatment options closer to home.

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“Cancer is already a difficult journey for patients and their families, and providing lifesaving care close to home in the Wasatch Back will help alleviate some of this stress,” said Tawnya Bowles, MD, an Intermountain Health cancer surgeon and senior medical director for oncology services for Intermountain Health’s Canyon’s Region. “We hope this new center helps ease the burden so patients can focus on getting well.”

The new cancer center is 10,800 square feet and includes 18 infusion bays, a significant increase from the four bays that served patients for the past several years. The center also has dedicated rooms for medical oncology appointments, allowing for telehealth visits with Intermountain cancer experts outside of the Wasatch Back.

One of the biggest additions is an advanced linear accelerator for radiation treatment. While infusion services for chemotherapy are offered at many hospitals, the advanced technology and expertise needed for radiation services make it difficult to find in many rural facilities.

“Radiation treatments are daily treatments over the course of nearly two months, which makes having radiation oncology close to home so important,” said Dr. Bowles. “When we’re talking about intense treatment schedules, not having to drive further down the valley makes all the difference in the world for our patients.”

The new cancer center is one of several expansions Intermountain Park City Hospital has undergone since first opening in 2009. Since then, the rise of people living, working and visiting the Wasatch Back has required the hospital to add more services to meet the demand for health care.

“This is the next major step for our hospital to continue to meet the needs of our community and to help residents in our community live the healthiest lives possible,” said Lori Weston, president of Intermountain Park City Hospital. “From the Wasatch Back, to the Uinta Basin, and into Wyoming, we’re working hard to provide the best cancer care possible for our patients.”

Studies have shown that cancer care closer to home isn’t just more convenient, but can also help patients stay on their recommended treatment schedule, which can lead to better outcomes.

Services offered

Medical oncology: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy tailored to each patient’s cancer type
Radiation oncology: On-site image-guided external beam, stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy
Surgical oncology: Cancer surgery with minimally invasive options, coordinated with a multidisciplinary team
Hematology: Diagnosis and treatment for blood cancers and complex blood disorders
Genetic counseling and high-risk prevention: Risk assessment, testing and personalized prevention plans
Clinical trials (Phase 1 and beyond): Access to innovative therapies through Intermountain research.
Oncology nutrition: Registered dietitians help patients maintain strength during treatment
Palliative and supportive oncology: Symptom relief, counseling and whole-person support
Navigation and survivorship: Care navigation, education and long-term follow-up