Low patient volume and changes to federal regulations caused the health system to end the center’s services. Joe LoDuca, chief administrative officer of the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute, said the Hi-Line center saw only four new patients each month in 2011, which made the radiation oncology service unsustainable, according to the report.
In addition, Benefis could not provide a licensed radiation oncologist at the Hi-Line facility whenever patients received radiation treatment, which is a CMS requirement.
The Hi-Line Sletten Cancer Center will remain open as a rural outreach center. Benefis has not decided the specific services the center will offer.
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