Brian Quaranta, MD, a radiation oncologist at 21st Century Oncology, said if the new centralized center is very successful, it could cause other cancer practices to close, forcing patients to travel farther to receive care, according to the report. However, Mission’s certificate of need application estimated the center would increase cancer cases by only 0.64 percent from 2008-2013.
In addition, Nathan Williams, MD, a partner with Hope Women’s Cancer Centers, said in the report that the new center may duplicate services and increase costs to taxpayers and patients.
Mission Hospital’s SECU Cancer Center is named for the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union, which donated $5 million to the construction of the center, according to a hospital news release. The center consolidates cancer services from six locations to one and includes two new linear accelerators; a CyberKnife radiosurgery facility; the Mission Integrative Health Care department, which offers acupuncture, pet therapy and other services; a resource library; a multi-purpose conference center; and a chapel.
Related Articles on Hospital Specialty Center Construction:
Hospitals in New York City Suburbs Oppose Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Plan for New Cancer Center
New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Approved to Build $142M Cancer Center
Washington’s Capital Medical Center Opens $5.5M Imaging, Wound-Care Center
