Sutter Health has announced plans for a significant expansion of its healthcare services in the Central Valley with a $380m investment earmarked for the construction of a new cancer centre in Modesto, California, US.

The four-storey, 165,000ft² facility will be located on the Sutter Memorial Medical Center campus, with opening planned for 2028 or 2029.

Sutter Health Cancer Center will occupy the first and second floors of the new building, providing a comprehensive range of cancer care services.  

As part of the Integrated Network Cancer Program, the centre will cater to the growing demand for cancer care in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Merced counties, as well as other regions.  

The centre’s all-inclusive approach includes clinic visits, imaging, infusion and radiation therapy, lab services, complementary therapies, and pharmacy.

In addition, the investment supports the integration of clinical trials, enhancing patient access to treatments.

The centre will also facilitate connections with Sutter cancer specialists in the Bay Area and greater Sacramento for advanced care needs.

The third floor will feature an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), with multiple operating and procedure rooms and space for future growth.

The ASC will provide a local option for outpatient surgery within Sutter’s integrated system.

The fourth floor is designed to accommodate more than 25 clinicians and 50 exam rooms, catering to the outpatient and clinical care needs of the region's growing population.

Gould Medical Group plans to recruit 44 clinicians for the cancer centre and ASC, along with 12 additional clinicians to support outpatient services.

This project, which will replace the existing facility at 1800 Coffee Road, is part of Sutter Health's plan to improve healthcare access in California.

It complements recent announcements of new care centres in the Central Valley and is part of a broader initiative that includes opening 27 new ASCs by 2027 and adding more than 160 beds in the hospital by next year.

Sutter Health has also announced new Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residency programs starting mid-2025.

Sutter Health president and CEO Warner Thomas said: “This investment, one of our biggest yet, is all about meeting the real needs of people in the Central Valley. We’re thrilled to be working alongside our physician partners to bring top-notch cancer care and surgical services to Modesto in this new facility.”