Roane General Hospital partners with WVU Cancer Institute, Camden Clark
On Thursday (Jan. 13), Roane General Hospital, located in Spencer, opened a new Oncology and Infusion Center in partnership with the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.
“This addition of services may have more effect on patients from Roane and surrounding counties than any other service our hospital has started over the last 20 years,” Doug Bentz, chief executive officer of Roane General Hospital, said. “This type of relationship is important for our hospital to remain independent while better serving our mission of providing patients care close to home.”
The new unit provides six private treatment rooms and all the support space needed to care for patients during their cancer journeys in a facility that has been renovated completely from floor to ceiling. It is staffed by a full oncology team, which includes an oncologist and other allied health professionals. Patients no longer will need to drive 60 to 90 minutes over rural roads to receive such care. Roane General also has a van to provide transportation for patients who need it.
“Certain aspects of cancer care can and should be provided close to patients’ homes, and medical oncology and chemotherapy infusion services are among them,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD, director of the WVU Cancer Institute, said. “A cancer diagnosis is already an incredible burden for patients to bear, so finding and receiving cancer care should not add to that stress. We are honored that patients from Roane and surrounding counties have entrusted us with their care, and we’re thrilled to bring these services to them.”
The opening of the new Oncology and Infusion Center comes two months after the Nov. 16 dedication of Roane General’s $28 million expansion and renovation project, which added about 40,000 square feet of new facilities and renovated about 20,000 square feet of pre-existing facilities. Roane General is the largest private employer in the county with more than 300 staff members.
Below are some photos from Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
