New treatment space in the works for infusion patients at Tacoma hospital
A Tacoma medical center has filed initial renderings with the City of Tacoma for a new oncology infusion-therapy suite.
St. Joseph Medical Center, part of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health system, filed the plans with the City of Tacoma last week.
According to the city’s online permit portal, plans call for the upgrades to be made at 1717 S. J St., Tacoma, and describe making use of an unoccupied suite “within St. Joseph Medical Center to become a 16-chair infusion center.”
Infusion therapy delivers medication, fluids or nutrients directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line, catheter, or needle. Uses include chemotherapy treatment of cancer, and for some medications to treat autoimmune disorders, among other conditions. Such treatment is commonly administered at oncology centers connected to hospitals.
VMFH has three primary infusion centers in Pierce County — in Gig Harbor, Lakewood and Tacoma.
The plan at St. Joseph calls for “demolition of non-bearing walls, casework, and finishes. New half-height walls, finishes, and rework of existing toilet rooms.”
The estimated value of the work is $1.8 million, according to the permit information.
No further details were available from VMFH officials, who noted the project is still early in the process.
The permits as of mid-Monday had not been routed for city staff review.
Deepak Devasthali is president of St. Joseph Medical Center. In a statement in response to questions from The News Tribune, Devasthali stated that VMFH is “always evaluating the needs of the communities we serve, including continuing to provide high-quality cancer care close to home for our patients.”
