AN ARCHITECT’S RENDERING shows a planned cancer center at Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson in Iron Mountain. It will be at the east end of the campus near the Emergency Department entrance and includes 8,000 square feet of new construction. Another 2,000 feet of existing space will be remodeled.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Marshfield Clinic Health System will start construction Monday on a regional cancer center in Iron Mountain.

The new building will be an extension of the Radiation Oncology Department at Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, located on the east end of the campus near the Emergency Department entrance.

Adding a new 8,000-square-foot structure and remodeling 2,000 square feet of existing space makes this the largest project in several years at Dickinson, said Joe Rizzo, MMC-D director of public relations and business development.

The center will provide increased access to care, state-of-the-art treatment technology and improved amenities for patients, he said.

Amanda Shelast, MMC-D president, described the project as “a victory for the entire region.”

“All aspects of cancer care will soon be under one roof in a new and fresh environment, emphasizing the comfort and care of our cancer patients,” Shelast said in a news release. “Improved communication and interaction between the providers, nurses and team members raises the quality of care to the highest level.”

As a Marshfield hospital, Dickinson can now participate in cancer trials and research, which hasn’t been offered in the past.

“We are incredibly excited to provide the highest level of cancer care, ‘close-to-home,’ to help and support patients and families battling cancer,” Shelast said.

Some added features will be large private infusion suites with individual climate control, heated-massage infusion chairs, a patient nutrition area, a personal care boutique and confidential consultation rooms.

Marshfield has hired local contractor Gundlach-Champion to build the center, Rizzo said. The work will not affect Dickinson’s current cancer care program.

“There will be some apparent construction and dust, and we ask all those visiting the campus to please follow the temporary directional signs as we work towards completing the project,” Rizzo said.

“Great effort and planning have gone into the cancer center, and I am honored to be a part of the team working on this project,” said Taylor Taylor, cancer center service line administrator. “We are proud to improve our oncology patient’s experience and look forward to making their treatment more comfortable.”

Plans for the center were announced at a March 27 meeting of the Dickinson County Board, where Shelast said completion was targeted for fall 2024 at an estimated cost of $10.6 million. At that time, however, the facility was projected at 12,000 square feet.

Construction costs have gone up substantially since the project was first envisioned, Shelast told the county board in March.

The former Dickinson County Healthcare System joined MCHS in February 2022, with Marshfield promising to deliver $26 million in capital investments over a five-year period, including construction of a regional cancer center.

Although Dickinson operations are now run by Marshfield, input and oversight is provided by an advisory board. The panel is responsible for monitoring the performance of MMC-D, along with helping to develop strategic plans.

Marshfield Clinic Health System serves Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula with more than 1,600 providers. Primary operations include more than 60 Marshfield Clinic locations, 11 hospitals, Marshfield Children’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Security Health Plan and the Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation.