Geisinger invests in Dickson City cancer center

DICKSON CITY, Pa. – Geisinger has announced the planned construction of a new, state-of-the-art cancer center designed to make better health easier in Lackawanna County by expanding services, hiring new providers and offering more appointments in the community. 

According to market forecasts, the need for cancer care in Lackawanna County is expected to grow by 3.2 percent over the next five years, and Geisinger has outgrown its current cancer center at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. The planned 55,000-square-foot, $58 million Dickson City facility, located on the north end of Viewmont Drive, will provide a broader spectrum of services closer to home for county residents. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2022, and when the center opens in late 2023, it will house a hematology/oncology clinic with 17 exam rooms, 22 infusion bays and 3 multidisciplinary spaces and will also provide radiation oncology – a first for Geisinger in Lackawanna County – palliative medicine, pharmacy and laboratory services. Patient amenities will include food service and a coffee bar, a specialty boutique and courtyards and gardens with natural views and vistas. 

“As more of our friends and neighbors trust us with their care, we need to provide more world-class cancer services to contribute to healthier, more vibrant communities in Lackawanna County,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s northeast region. “Geisinger has served northeastern Pennsylvania for 40 years, and this investment is further proof that we intend to care for and grow with our communities for many years to come.”

This new, full-spectrum cancer center will complement the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, which is currently undergoing its own extensive expansion and renovation that includes the addition of an inpatient unit for treatment of complex blood cancers. Together, the centers anchor a regional cancer program that provides everything patients can find in major hub cities right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. 

“The cancer program at Geisinger already features top-tier providers, comprehensive care teams, leading-edge treatment, advanced technologies and clinical trials,” said Rajiv Panikkar, M.D., chair of the Geisinger Cancer Institute. “By allowing the program to flourish, this new facility is another step toward making sure patients never have to leave the region for outstanding care.”

Located near the intersection of Interstate 81 and the Scranton-Carbondale Highway, the center will be within a short drive for most county residents. Chosen for its ability to serve as many patients as possible within a 20-minute drive time, the site is conveniently situated in the same hub as the Viewmont Mall and Dickson City Crossings. It will bolster the community not only by providing a destination for exceptional cancer care but also through the creation of dozens of new jobs. 

The new facility will also free up much-needed space at Geisinger Community Medical Center to expand private room availability, improve the overall patient experience, and continue developing the city’s hospital as the region’s gold standard for critical care, cardiovascular care, trauma and more. 

Additionally, Geisinger continues to explore all opportunities for growth at the Geisinger Community Medical Center that will provide even more investments for a healthier, more vibrant city.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.