‘Expansion of compassion and hope’

Jerry Schroeder was among dozens of people touring the newly renovated and expanded UnityPoint Health-Trinity Cancer Center at 500 John Deere Road, Moline, on Wednesday, May 7. While he enjoyed seeing all the features in the $20 million project – especially the added space to help patients – his thoughts went back to his own […]

Jerry Schroeder was among dozens of people touring the newly renovated and expanded UnityPoint Health-Trinity Cancer Center at 500 John Deere Road, Moline, on Wednesday, May 7. While he enjoyed seeing all the features in the $20 million project – especially the added space to help patients – his thoughts went back to his own journey with cancer.

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A few years ago, the Moline man was diagnosed with a type of cancer called metastatic melanoma. It had spread through his body, causing tumors in his brain and stomach.  Even though those were tough days, Mr. Schroeder said he feels fortunate because he went to the hospital’s cancer center, received great care and got the proper treatment for his cancer. “I have nothing but praise for this place. … There was a time when there wasn’t a high probability I would survive five years. I think the stats are better now,” said Mr. Schroeder, who was part of the crowd of more than 100 people who came out to celebrate the cancer center’s expansion. That celebration included a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the changes, cookies and other treats, speeches from health care officials praising the project, and plenty of stories of cancer struggles and survival. One of those stories was told by Shawn Morrow, the president of UnityPoint Health Quad Cities/Muscatine. He told the crowd that when he was 12 years old in 1980, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She died of cancer five years later. When she was diagnosed, her type of cancer had about a 50% survival rate. Today, that survival rate is up to around 90%, thanks to the many advances in the science of fighting cancer. Some of those advances can be seen in the renovated and updated cancer center in Moline, he added. “This reassures people that no one faces cancer alone,” Mr. Morrow said, adding that the expanded cancer center is more than adding more physical space. It’s an “expansion of compassion and hope,” the health care leader said.  Mary Macumber-Schmidt, Trinity Health Foundation president, added her own story of cancer survival to Wednesday’s events. She said the center has saved her life twice in her battles with the disease as she referred to the cap she was wearing that covered her bald head that is a result of ongoing treatments. “I would like to think that my bald head qualifies me to talk for patients. … My bald head allows me to speak for patients when I say ‘thank you,’” she said. Those “thank you” message were repeated several times during the gathering. For instance, Kent Pilcher, president of Estes Construction, the contractor for the project, thanked the health care representatives for putting up with the disruptions that came with a long renovation project. “This is a good investment in the community. … People will get to stay in the area for their cancer treatments,” he told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal. Also, Dr. Ahmad Abu-Hashyeh, an oncologist/hematologist at the cancer center, thanked the center’s staff members for their hard work. “Today matters. Cancer care  … is about outcomes and patient dignity,” he said. That patient care will be vastly helped by the new space and features in the renovated center. Tricia Fisher, the center’s Oncology Services director, said the updated center is designed with patients’ needs in mind. One of her favorite parts of the renovated space is the large windows that allow patients and staff members to get a better look at the great views outdoors. She told the crowd that those views and renovated spaces also will help attract more health care professionals to work in the Moline facility. In fact, she said one doctor who recently visited has agreed to a job offer and will begin working at the center next year. “If you build it, they will come,” said Ms. Fisher, referencing the tagline made famous by the Iowa-based movie “Field of Dreams.” Here’s a look at some of the features and updates:

• The project centered on adding or renovating 10,466 square of space.
• Updates include additional infusion chairs and private infusion rooms, separate lobby areas for infusion and the hematology/oncology clinic, modernized nurse workstations that improve workflow and collaboration, and expanded office space to support a growing team.
• The project also enhanced the clinic exam rooms and the registration and provider offices.
• Work began about 18 months ago and was finished a few weeks ago, said Mr. Pilcher of Estes, based in downtown Davenport.
• The demand for services, including chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments, continues to rise, and this expansion is critical to ensuring we have the space, resources, and care environments necessary to provide timely and compassionate care to those in need. Demand has risen significantly for Trinity Cancer Center services, including: a 37% increase in patient visits over the past five years and a 144% increase in infusion visits, according to UnityPoint Health-Trinity officials.
• According to the 2024 Quad Cities Community Health Needs Assessment, cancer rates in the Quad Cities are above the national average. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the region and is projected to surpass heart disease in the next seven years. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other forms of the disease are becoming increasingly common. 
• The cancer center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and can be reached at (309) 779-4940.

The celebration also featured tours of the renovated cancer center. Health care workers – each carrying big purple ribbons to symbolize cancer awareness – gave tours of the facility. One of those tour guides was Katie Murray, the office coordinator at the renovated UnityPoint Health-Trinity Cancer Center. She led visitors to the private infusion rooms, separate lobby areas for infusion and the hematology/oncology clinic, modernized nurse workstations, a donor wall in the center, and even the Gilda’s Club Quad Cities section. The club, rebranded as Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club, features a wide variety of support items and activities for people fighting cancer. Visitors got to see some of the wigs, shirts and food treats for those going through a cancer journey. They also visited a meeting room called the “Room of Hope” at Gilda’s Club. “You have a bit of breathing room. … There’s room to grow,” Ms. Murray said as she led a group of visitors around different areas of the center. Two of those people on the tour were cancer survivor Mr. Schroeder and his wife, Donna, who is also a cancer survivor. Pleased with seeing the renovated health care center, he said that his own cancer journey is going in a positive direction and he feels great. “I have no reason to believe I won’t survive this,” he said.