New center good for community

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 8, 2010

On the day that Relay for Life volunteers were celebrating the 11 million cancer survivors and raising money for the American Cancer Society’s, there was good news locally for those who are fighting or will fight cancer.
21st Century Oncology plans to begin construction of a 7,420 square foot cancer treatment facility on the campus of Andalusia Regional Hospital, and Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group will open an office here in the next year or so, ARH CEO Mark Dooley announced.
The two announcements mean cancer specialists and treatment will be available in Andalusia, making care more convenient to cancer patients and allowing them to use their energy to get well, rather than traveling back and forth to a city for treatment.
The investment also shows two organizations’ confidence in Andalusia Regional Hospital and its future, and allows the hospital to fill an important niche in health care in its quest to be seen by smaller hospitals in our area as a regional referral site.
In the bigger picture, the two organizations will be about the business of helping Relay for Life volunteers have an even larger number of survivors to celebrate in the years to come.