As the population ages, it is predicted that there will be a 45 percent increase in the total number of annual cancer cases nationwide. The numbers are growing so rapidly that it is also predicted by the year 2020, there will be a shortage of more than 2,500 oncologists to care for those patients.
With this knowledge, four of the healthcare entities in Searcy decided to join together to ensure cancer care for our community. CARTI, White County Oncology, Radiology Associates, PA (RAPA) and White County Medical Center will join forces under one roof to fight cancer in the new Cancer Center of Excellence located at 415 Rodgers Dr.
The new center will have three medical oncologists and one radiation oncologist, allowing for a patient to be diagnosed and treated all at the same location. The center will take the cancer care in this community to the next level and will feature some of the most advanced diagnostic and treatment machines in the nation. For example, there will be a full-time PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanner with the latest technology available, and a digital linear accelerator that will be one of about six in the country.
A few of the many features that will be inside the cancer center include:
- Café for families and friends to relax
- Chapel for meditation
- Counseling room to assist with all issues that families face during the battle with cancer
- Conference and resource room for family members to learn more about the different diseases
- Chemo treatment area with not only a chair for up to 24 patients, but also a chair for each patient to bring a visitor and 2 private rooms for patients who would rather be alone
- Clinic with three or four exam rooms for each oncologist
- Breast center with digital mammography
With men having a 1 in 2 chance of developing cancer and women a 1 in 3 chance, the goal of everyone involved in the cancer center is to provide the highest quality cancer care to patients in a comfortable environment and, at the same time, provide for the needs of the families affected by the disease.
Delk Construction has provided July as the estimated completion date, allowing some treatment to begin September 6. The grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. and everyone is invited to stop by and tour the new facility.
Although $1.3 million has been pledged, there is still a long way to go to reach the $3.2 million goal. To help with the development of the Cancer Center of Excellence, contact White County Medical Foundation executive director, Cassandra Feltrop at 501-278-3191.
Story written by Michelle Makool | Searcy.com
