The Lutz Cancer Center opened its doors Monday at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont, with an open house and ribbon cutting after two years of planning, construction and preparation for a $1.7 million facility that doubles the size of the existing treatment space., according to Mayo Clinic Health System- Fairmont Administrator Amy Long..

The new Lutz Cancer Center-instead of having the infusion chairs lined up in a row as they are now, the chairs are now paired up in pods of two, with a privacy curtain to separate them, if desired. The pods are separated by partial walls topped with opaque glass so the area feels open while still offering privacy. The new cancer center also has a consultation room, education room, conference room, staff locker space and a break room. The cancer center goes from five infusion chairs and one bed to 10 infusion chairs and two beds, and now has a nutrition area which did not exist before. Exam rooms are doubled from two to four. New also is a procedure room for lab draws and bone marrow biopsies.It will go from a capability of serving 40 patients a week to 70 .

The showpiece is the new entry area and lobby. Nine new parking stalls designated for cancer center patients have been installed by the entryway on the east corner of the hospital building. The lobby features a check-in desk, tables and chairs. In addition to a full-time oncology nurse practitioner, a full-time registered nurse will be added, bringing the cancer center staff up to seven registered nurses, two licensed practical nurses, one patient access staff person and a part-time social worker.

Amy Long advised community members they can look forward to another open house for the new cardiac rehab unit coming this fall.

Amy has been in Fairmont for two and a half years now and when asked if she expected this much growth that quickly, she said yes and no, but found out the support in the community is very high.