Clinton Memorial Hospital Breaks Ground on Cancer

Clinton Memorial Hospital Breaks Ground on Cancer

Earlier this month, I visited Clinton Memorial Hospital (CMH) for the groundbreaking ceremonies of CMH's comprehensive regional cancer center. The planned $8 million regional cancer center comes on the heels of CMH's five-year $50 million building and renovation project that was completed last year.

That renovation included updating and expanding Clinton Memorial Hospital's emergency room. I was pleased to assist CMH by helping to obtain $700,000 in federal funding that was used specifically for improving the emergency room facilities. The updated emergency room at CMH treated nearly 34,000 patients last year, an increase of 11%, while offering more comfortable and modern services for all.

Clinton Memorial Hospital is the central medical facility and treatment center for more than 400,000 people that live in the five-county region that includes: Clinton, Highland, Fayette, Greene and Warren Counties. Last year, CMH provided health services to over 200,000 patients. Clinton Memorial Hospital has over 900 employees, more than 100 volunteers, and a medical staff of more than 130 - serving over 30 subspecialties. The new cancer center will improve the treatment and care of residents diagnosed with cancer.

For many cancer patients in this region, there currently is no comprehensive treatment facility that is easily accessible. CMH estimates that approximately 1,900 new cases will be diagnosed in the five-county area each year, and that at present there are over 10,000 people living with cancer, in the region. To receive comprehensive treatment today, those residents, and their families, must drive to one of the major metropolitan areas.

While attending the ground-breaking, I had the opportunity to discuss the hospital leadership's vision of the new regional cancer center with CMH President and CEO, Tim Crowley; as well as with Jim Chroust, President of the CMH Foundation.

Next year, when finished, the 18,000 square foot regional cancer center will sit across from the Clinton Memorial Hospital campus on West Main Street. It will bring together a comprehensive range of the most modern and up-to-date, technologies, services, doctors and programs, all under one roof. The new regional cancer center is the latest addition in Clinton Memorial Hospital's commitment to its mission: to improve lives through compassionate quality healthcare.

Sixty percent of cancer patients receive radiation therapy. Over recent years there have been significant advances in radiation technology that allow doctors to more precisely pinpoint areas requiring treatment, but sparing healthy surrounding areas. The goal is to allow patients to receive more efficient therapy with less negative side effects. The regional cancer center will include a state-of-the art radiation suite. In addition, the CMH regional cancer center will include a comfortable environment for patients to recover from treatment with their families present.

CMH has also planed for a cancer resource center, where patients and their families will be able to borrow books, videos, and access an online medical library to seek answers to questions about treatments. In addition, plans include a natural healing garden that will serve as a restful environment for healing.

Clinton Memorial Hospital has grown consistently over the past 54 years. What began as a rural community hospital has become one of our most important community assets. Last year CMH completed a five-year update and modernization plan, including a busy state-of-the-art emergency room that received federal funding, which I was proud to shepherd through Congress. In the coming year, CMH will be able to serve even more residents from the surrounding five counties, when the regional cancer treatment center opens directly across from the Clinton Memorial Hospital main campus.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/3.10.06.shtml