User:Cvillemegan/Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center

Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center new article content ... The Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center is an outpatient cancer treatment and research center located in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is part of the University of Virginia (UVA) Cancer Center and the University of Virginia Health System.

The building contains most of UVA’s outpatient cancer treatment clinics, including gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, neuro-oncology and the infusion center.

The Couric Center opened April 4, 2011. It is named after late Virginia state senator Emily Couric, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001. Emily’s sister Katie Couric spoke at the Couric Center’s groundbreaking and dedication.

Noteworthy Features
The building contains several pieces of advanced radiation oncology treatment that are unique or only available at a few cancer centers in the U.S :
 * The TomoHD system delivers more precisely targeted radiation treatments to patients than other forms of radiation therapy, thereby preserving more healthy tissue. Culpeper Regional Hospital in Culpeper, Virginia has a TomoHD system that is synched with UVA’s so patients can receive treatment at both locations once a UVA doctor has planned their treatment.
 * The Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator has respiratory gating, which provides more accurate treatment for tumors that move as a patient breathes.
 * The CT on Rails Brachytherapy Suite uses tiny seeds of radiation that are placed inside the patient’s body at or near the site of the cancer. The suite moves a CT scanner over the patient to confirm that the seeds are in the right location, so, unlike traditional brachytherapy treatments, the patient does not need to be moved to another room for imaging.

UVA is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for the Couric Center. UVA used local suppliers for the 207,000 bricks and 1,700 pieces of sandstone in the building, and it recycled 90 percent of the construction waste.

The building also has
 * Dedicated clinic space for nurses who coordinate clinical trials
 * Flourish, an on-site image boutique with a certified mastectomy fitter
 * Three reflective gardens, including a rooftop garden
 * A meditation room