Bronson’s New Cancer Pavilion in Kalamazoo Named in Honor of Former President and CEO Frank J. Sardone
The Bronson Healthcare system’s board of directors has bestowed a lasting honor on former president and CEO Frank J. Sardone who retired in December, 2019, after 32 years of service. This week, the five-story, 85,000 sq. ft. pavilion being built to house Bronson’s new outpatient cancer center on the campus of Bronson Methodist Hospital was christened the Frank J. Sardone Pavilion.
Bronson Board Chair Nelson Karre, says, “During his tenure as president & CEO, Frank made an indelible impact on the patient and family experience by enhancing quality, customer service and the design of Bronson facilities. Always putting the patient and family at the center of decision-making, the development in 2000 of The New Bronson with all-private rooms and a patient-centered healing environment became and remains the role model for hospital design across the country and across the world. Those principles are reflected in this new pavilion where Bronson patients will receive outpatient cancer treatment.”
The decision to name the building in Sardone’s honor was made based on a long list of contributions he made to improve healthcare services for people in southwest Michigan. Notably, he led Bronson Methodist Hospital on a journey to excellence by focusing on evidence-based quality and service to achieve high quality clinical and organizational outcomes such that, in 2005, the hospital was awarded the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence ─ the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Sardone also created key partnerships that resulted in growth and economic development; expanded medical training for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals; enhanced and expanded Bronson services into a regional system with over 100 sites; and instituted a shared electronic medical record system to better connect care among providers and with patients. These and other initiatives led Bronson to become one of the most respected independent health systems in the nation.
When the cancer center opens in the Frank J. Sardone Pavilion in January, the Bronson Healthcare system will offer patients in southwest Michigan two convenient destinations for cancer care – the new Bronson Cancer Center in Kalamazoo and the well-established Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek. Within these locations, patients and their families will be supported in their cancer journey by a care team working in unison through a coordinated plan of care.
Across Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Van Buren counties, there are well over 2,000 new cancer cases diagnosed annually. That equates to about 6 people being diagnosed with cancer each day.
“A cancer patient touches nearly every part of our health system,” says Bill Manns, Bronson Healthcare’s current president and CEO, “and we want to be there for them every step of the way. From their primary care doctor, to medical oncology and radiation specialists, to chemotherapy and infusion services, lab and diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation and other therapies. Bronson’s cancer program is a regional one, bringing together experts across all specialties. Having all visits documented and managed collaboratively by providers in one electronic health record enhances quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness to ensure the best possible care for each patient.”
In Kalamazoo, Bronson will continue to partner with the West Michigan Cancer Center for radiation and surgical oncology services, but will provide chemotherapy and infusion services for adults in the Frank J. Sardone Pavilion starting January 18, 2021. Bronson Children’s Hospital across the street from the new pavilion continues to be the premier destination for inpatient and outpatient care for children with cancer and blood disorders from throughout the region, and Bronson Battle Creek’s nationally-recognized cancer center will continue to provide a full spectrum of oncology services ─ chemotherapy, radiation and surgery ─ for adults in the eastern part of Bronson’s service area.
For more information, visit bronsonhealth.com/cancer.
