MURRAY, KY – Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Regional Cancer Center following the completion of the $15 million facility. With Kentucky facing the highest rates of overall cancer incidence and death in the United States, and leading the nation in lung and colorectal cancer, this new center is an important step in caring for patients with cancer, offering cancer detection, diagnosis and care all under one roof.

At nearly 18,000 square feet, it offers much more space than the previous cancer center, increasing capacity to offer more high-quality cancer detection, diagnosis and care in one location.

This special occasion was commemorated on June 10^th at 9 a.m. with remarks by leadership, donors, Dr. Ghanem and Dr. Diaz. The new, enhanced cancer care facility will open to patients later this summer as the various departments’ transition into the new center.

The new cancer center will bring innovations to the fight against cancer close to home. Located within the North Tower of MCCH on 8^th street, the new center provides patients with convenient access to excellent cancer care. Thousands of patients will be cared for annually by a multidisciplinary team of specialists and sub-specialists to meet the challenges presented by many types of cancer.

Key Features:

• 18,000 square feet
• New clinic space

• Linear Accelerator and control room
  • $3.7 Million
  • With this technology – we’re now able to treat over 98% of cancer diagnosed
  • Gives us the ability to better localize the treatment area prior to delivery of the radiation therapy and shrink down the area we treat sparing more healthy tissue
  • 6 degree freedom couch allows us to better position and align patients for treatment
  • SRS (stereotactic radio surgery) – large single fraction pinpointed at a targeted area
• Dedicated chemotherapy area
• New infusion facility
• Accessibility to Inpatient Pharmacy
• Continuity of care

• 2 physicians, Dr. Zuhair Ghanem and Dr. Alexander Diaz and more than 30 other healthcare professionals dedicated to cancer care
• 6 private and semi-private infusion bays overlooking a meditation garden
• Clinic space with a multidisciplinary design where patients benefit from a collaborative approach to cancer care by a highly skilled team of medical and radiation oncologists, Alison Sasseen, APRN, and oncology nurses dedicated to supporting our cancer patients and their loved ones

 “The opening of this facility really does marks a new day for cancer care at MCCH,” CEO Jerry Penner said. What I’m most grateful for, however – and what I think many in the community will be most grateful for – is that it will mean so many will be able to find the world-class cancer care they need right here, close to home and in their own backyard. That truly is a blessing.”

The Cancer Program at Murray-Calloway County Hospital is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

A facility receives the accreditation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. During the visit, staff demonstrate compliance with standards, which include: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures the patient will have access to comprehensive care, a multi-specialty team approach to coordinate best treatment options, information about ongoing clinic trials, access to cancer-related information and support, a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results with lifelong patient follow-up, ongoing monitoring and improvement of care and, most importantly, quality care close to home.

For more information about the Regional Cancer Center at MCCH, visit www.murrayhospital.org.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is a 152-licensed bed medical center located at 803 Poplar Street in Murray, Kentucky.  The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the Western Kentucky area for over 100 years.  Murray Hospital specializes in such major areas as women’s services, metabolic and bariatric surgery, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, psychiatric services, emergency services and more. Murray-Calloway County Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.