Media Release
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CANCER CENTER TO BE BUILT IN LOGAN COUNTY
Mary Rutan Hospital joins members of The Cancer Network of West Central Ohio to announce its plan to build a cancer treatment facility in Logan County.
The Cancer Center will occupy 14,786 square feet and will be located on 1.869 acres at the Sloan Boulevard Professional Park. Construction and equipment costs for the project are anticipated to be $4.5 million.
Services to be offered at the facility will include; radiation oncology, medical oncology, a community resource center, outpatient laboratory services, social services, nutritional services, pastoral care, and health screenings.
The Cancer Center marks the third major project Mary Rutan Hospital has been involved in during the past three years. In February 2001, The opening of the Ewing H. Crawfis Imaging Center, in September 2002, the opening of the Mary Rutan Hospital Physical Rehabilitation Center and the latest edition to this massive expansion of health care services and facilities, the new Cancer Center.
The Cancer Center is a collaborative project between Mary Rutan Hospital, Joint Township
District Memorial Hospital, Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital, St. Rita’s Medical Center and Van Wert County Hospital. These five hospitals make up the West Central Ohio Regional Healthcare Alliance (WCORHA). WCORHA is a network of community hospitals with a shared vision of working together to promote collaboration in areas that will improve the quality and cost effectiveness of healthcare services for the respective communities and the West Central Ohio Region.
“As Mary Rutan Hospital looks for ways to continue to enhance services and facilities to meet the needs of the communities that we serve, this joint project allows us to bring the latest technology, diagnosis and medical treatment of cancer right here to Logan and surrounding counties, while continuing our relationship with The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute”, states Ewing H. Crawfis, President & CEO. “Many area residents are required to travel several times a week to larger cities to receive radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The traveling adds extra stress and fatigue to an already difficult time for many patients and their families”, says Mr. Crawfis.
Groundbreaking for the new Center is planned to occur in March with an anticipated completion and opening of the facility in late 2003 to early 2004. The architect firm working on the Bellefontaine Center is URS of Columbus and the contractor is
Thomas and Marker Construction Company of Bellefontaine.
“Oncology and Hematology patient visits to MRH have increased by 87% since 1998”, states Mandy Goble, Executive Vice President. “The new Cancer Center will allow us to increase our cancer services and provide an environment within our community to improve cancer care with radiation oncology and medical oncology experts in one location while providing specialized care to our patients”, says Ms. Goble.
The Cancer Network of West Central Ohio is also building a cancer treatment facility in Celina, Ohio, which is planned to open in early 2004. The Cancer Network of West Central Ohio is one of several accomplished programs as part of WCORHA. Other programs include Occupational Health services, Call-A-Nurse, Laboratory services, Group Purchasing, Asset Management, Bio-Medical Engineering and a Mobile Health Van.
