Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert has opened its "3 South Stem Cell Infusion" Tower, increasing the care space available for stem-cell therapy treatments in an outpatient setting.

The 4,800-square-foot addition includes three infusion bays, six private infusion rooms, 10 exam rooms and two team workrooms, nearly doubling the available treatment space for stem-cell transplant patients.

With this new area, the Banner MD Anderson team indicated it hopes to reduce days spent in the hospital, enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction.

“Not only is this going to be a great place to receive care, it will be a great place to render care,” Darren McCollem, chief operating officer at Banner MD Anderson and Banner Gateway Medical Center, said in a press release. “For the first time, we have private rooms and air controlled rooms in this area so that we can work with patients who need more intense care. In this way, we continue to grow on the vision of our stem cell program, and this is only the beginning of what’s to come next.”

Banner MD Anderson aims for this added space to allow the clinical team to eventually deliver the entire transplant process in the outpatient setting — bypassing the need for hospitalization.

This will be an improvement for stem cell patients, who receive care in the specialized infusion department for one to three months following hospital discharge, according to the release.

Banner MD Anderson has completed more than 100 stem-cell transplants in 2023. It holds FACT accreditation, and has a clinical partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation for cancer care.

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