Print this Page
E-mail This Page
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Fox Chase Cancer Center decide it needed to expand?
In 2002, Fox Chase Cancer Center's leadership evaluated its patient volume, the demographics of cancer in an aging population and its current capacity. The results proved that for Fox Chase to continue to serve as one of the world's outstanding comprehensive cancer centers and meet the present and future needs of cancer patients, it had to significantly expand its facilities.
Why Burholme Park?
Given the organization's core belief that both its successful outcomes and its competitive advantage are based on the ability of its various physicians and researchers to collaborate in both patient care and translational research, a premium was placed on focusing the core of Fox Chase's services on one central campus. After exploring various options, the decision was made to pursue expansion within Burholme Park.
Fox Chase Cancer Center is dedicated to Philadelphia and wants to remain a true gem in this community's backyard. Expansion into a small portion of Burholme Park is a "win-win" situation because the proposed lease will only apply to 19.4 acres of the 69-acre park, and a significant amount of the land in question is already leased to a for-profit corporation for the purposes of operating a for-profit golf driving range, miniature golf course and restaurant/snack shop.
In addition, Fox Chase has agreed to pay $1.25 million for the maintenance, repair and improvement of Burholme Park; $7 million for improvements to the entire Fairmount Park system; and $4 million through the Improvement to Existing Facilities (ITEF) fund to purchase open space in the 10th City Council District, where the Park is located.
If we want Fox Chase Cancer Center to grow in Philadelphia, then we must ask ourselves whether or not saving lives and developing new treatments for cancer justifies a compromise by which the majority of Burholme Park will not only remain undisturbed but will actually be enhanced.
How will the expansion benefit the community?
First and foremost, an increased sense of pride will resonate within the community because Fox Chase will remain one of the world's outstanding comprehensive cancer centers and an economic anchor right in our backyard. Fox Chase Cancer Center is the second largest employer in Northeast Philadelphia and the largest employer in the Fox Chase-Burholme area.
The Center employs approximately 2,500 employees of whom nearly 50%% reside in the City. The average salary at Fox Chase is $82,000, with 80% of the employees making more than $47,000 per year. As a premier international medical center, Fox Chase contributes to the life science industry in Philadelphia, which is a large, important sector of the City's economy.
An independent economic impact report found that over the course of Fox Chase's twenty-five year $1 billion expansion program, nearly 4,000 permanent, direct and 2,181 "indirect and induced" jobs would be created. In addition, over the course of this same period, City wage tax receipts would total $25.7 million. All of these benefits will help preserve and enhance the quality of life of the residents of the Fox Chase community.
Does the City of Philadelphia support the proposed expansion?
The Fairmount Park Commission approved the plan in March of 2005, and a bill approving the lease to Fox Chase passed Philadelphia's City Council unanimously and was signed into law by Mayor Michael Nutter in March of 2008. During negotiations with the City, Fox Chase agreed to pay the City up to $12.25 million, of which $1.25 million is specifically designated for the maintenance, repair and improvement of Burholme Park; $7 million designated for the entire Fairmount Park system; and $4 million designated to the Capital Budget's Improvement to Existing Facilities (ITEF) fund to purchase as its highest priority open space in the 10th City Council District, where the Park is located.
Why is the expansion controversial?
Because of its proximity to Burholme Park and the size of the park (69 acres), Fox Chase determined it was the obvious choice for expansion. This was a "win-win" situation because the proposed lease will only apply to 19.4 acres of the 69-acre Burholme Park, and a significant amount of the land in question is already leased to a for-profit corporation for the purposes of operating a for-profit golf driving range, miniature golf course and restaurant/snack shop.
In addition, Fox Chase has agreed to pay $1.25 million for the maintenance, repair and improvement of Burholme Park; $7 million for improvements to the entire Fairmount Park system; and $4 million through the Improvement to Existing Facilities (ITEF) fund to purchase open space in the 10th City Council District, where the Park is located.
The controversy surrounds the original donation of Burholme Park from Robert Waln Ryerss. As part of Ryerss' will, in 1905 he left 45 acres to the City. The City obtained a 21-acre parcel of land adjacent to Burholme Park 10 years later for a total of 69-acres of parkland. With the addition of these 21 acres, the land remaining after the proposed expansion of 19.4 acres will still be larger than that originally devised by Ryerss.
If we want Fox Chase Cancer Center to grow in Philadelphia, then we must ask ourselves whether or not saving lives and developing new treatments for cancer justifies a compromise by which the majority of Burholme Park will not only remain undisturbed but will actually be enhanced.
What makes Fox Chase Cancer Center unique?
Fox Chase is the region's only institution devoted entirely to cancer research, prevention, and treatment, and the demand for our services is growing almost exponentially. By keeping physicians and researchers together in the same location, we can facilitate the discovery of new cancer treatments.
Given the downturn in the economy, is the hospital really that busy?
In 2008, the Center saw approximately 8,000 new patients, a substantial growth from 6,500 new patients in 2006. Looking at an increasing and aging population, we see those trend lines continuing to rise: by 2015, the Center is projecting 12,000 new patients per year with 120,000 outpatient visits. In addition, as science grows more complex, we need to continue to stay on the leading edge of medical research, which will also require expanded research laboratory facilities.
It seems like the hospital is already expanding with so many construction projects. Won't that be enough?
We currently have 19 construction projects underway at our main campus, including a five-floor, 125,000-square-foot Cancer Research Pavilion that will house the region's first Center for Women's Cancers. However, the hospital needs to expand its inpatient and outpatient capacity so we can offer private hospital rooms, more spacious waiting rooms, additional infusion areas, parking spaces and more. Plus, we want to keep physicians and researchers together in the same location to facilitate the discovery of new cancer treatments.
With the recent staff reduction and money crunch, can Fox Chase afford to expand?
We can't afford not to expand. We have had a tremendous and progressive increases in patient volume and scientific research over the last 30 years, and it has been accelerating in the past several years. Our existing facilities will simply not be able to continue to accommodate that kind of growth in volume. That's why we currently have so many construction projects underway on the existing campus, and why we're also vigorously pursuing our plan to expand into Burholme Park.
From a financial perspective, we continue to post positive clinical operating margins, and our revenue from research grants is running close to 100% of budget, an amazing achievement in today's federal funding climate. That said, the financial picture for any healthcare institution in the current economic environment is challenging.
What is the next step in the court case for the expansion?
On December 24, 2008, the Center initiated the process of appealing the decision with a petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to take King's Bench jurisdiction. The Center was notified on February 27, 2009 that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the King's Bench appeal. Fox Chase has preserved the right to pursue the more traditional appeal process with the Commonwealth Court. Expansion is critical to Fox Chase's ability to save lives, develop new treatments for cancer, and provide thousands of good-paying jobs for local residents. As such, the Center's Board and leadership will continue to evaluate the best course of action to enable expansion to occur.