State of the Art Surgery Center

This state-of-the-art facility was built specifically for the care of our urology patients.

Our Norwood campus combines state-of-the-art equipment with a complete suite of urological health services all under one roof. It serves as the hub for urology specialization across the region.

Our 55,000-square-foot campus features:

• Ambulatory surgery center
• Physician offices
• In-house laboratory specializing in urologic pathology
• An imaging center that now includes 4k technology
• CyberKnife SBRT suite for treating localized prostate cancer
• Pharmacy: A pharmacist-led URAC-accredited pharmacy for both specialty oncolytics and other urologic medications
• The Urology Center earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for our ambulatory surgery center and our radiology services are accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The Center includes:

• 5 full hospital quality Siemen’s equipped cystoscopy suites
• Two open ORs
• A fixed lithotripsy unit with built-in ultrasound
• CyberKnife SBRT, IMRT, and brachytherapy suite for treating localized prosate cancer
• Bone density, body ultrasound and CT
• A physician-led accredited clinical research department
• A pathology department with a full time on site urological pathologist
• A radiation oncology department which offers brachytherapy, IMRT, and stereotactic body radiosurgery
• This centralized surgery center offers convenience for our patients across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.

On-site Laboratory

Our nationally accredited lab at the Norwood Campus holds several significant distinctions. It processes blood tests, microbial cultures, DNA testing and anatomic pathology–as well as more than 2,000 prostate biopsies annually, the most in the region.

In the fall of 2014, the lab became one of the few in the nation to begin testing for specific biomarkers in prostate tissue that help guide a man’s treatment decision based on his genetic makeup. We are also advancing urology research in the following areas:

• Molecular microbiology: The Urology Group is a pioneer in the Greater Cincinnati region for using molecular microbiology to study urine cultures. Geared toward patients with chronic, recurring urine infections, and for whom previous antibiotics have not been affected, The Urology Group’s laboratory team looks at the genetic make-up of a patient’s urine sample. Studying the sample’s DNA, pathologists can help the physician determine the best treatment protocol for each specific patient.
• Genomic testing: Genomic testing, or personalized medicine, allows The Urology Group to identify if a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer is at low risk or high risk for developing a more aggressive form of cancer, based on the patient’s genetic make-up. Low risk patients typically undergo “active surveillance,” whereby they get tested regularly but receive no treatment for their cancer diagnosis. However, if genomic testing places the patient in the high-risk category, a physician may choose to treat the cancer or take a more aggressive form of surveillance. While genomic testing has helped breast cancer patients for nearly two decades, it’s now an important tool for monitoring prostate cancer patients as well.
• Genetic testing: The BRCA gene test is a blood test that uses a patient’s DNA to identify how susceptible their genes are to develop to breast cancer. Long used among women, the BRCA test can also signal prostate cancer. If a man tests positive for the BRCA gene, his lifetime risk for prostate cancer is 15-25%, and he’s at risk for developing a more aggressive/life-threatening cancer at a younger age. The Urology Group uses this test to determine whether or not genetic mutations might be passed on to family members.

With the lab onsite, results get processed quickly, so patients and their families spend less time waiting anxiously for news. Faster turnarounds also mean an earlier start for evaluating patient treatment options and determining the best course of action.