Construction Projects
CRMC Announces Radiation Oncology and Safe Room Building Project
Radiation Oncology and Safe Room Building Design
Coffeyville Regional Medical Center announces its plans to build a new Radiation Oncology and MRI building starting in the fall of 2008. In 2006, CRMC began the process of seeking funding and congressional support toward this building project. "CRMC was granted $341,000 - funds that are earmarked for the project once we break ground, and tax credits for another $320,000 from the CRMC Foundation," said Jerry Marquette, CEO.
Radiation Oncology Project
CRMC has been treating cancer in this community for thirty years, and its Cancer Program is certified by the American College of Surgeons. The Cancer Program consists of four modalities: Medical Oncology (Chemotherapy), Radiation Oncology, Surgery and the Cancer Registry. The addition of the new Radiation Oncology building will compliment the Tatman Cancer Center that was renovated last fall.
For the past thirty years, radiation oncology has been performed by cobalt therapy and linear accelerator. The hospital has outgrown the space and equipment, and now has the patient volume to justify expansion. "We elected to add a building adjacent to our 1984 Medical Imaging and Surgery areas off of Fourth Street," said Marquette. The new project would locate all of Medical Imaging in one area of the hospital campus, allowing both outpatients and inpatients the convenience of having diagnostic work and treatment done in the same area. After completion of this building project, a new radiation therapy unit will be purchased, including a simulator and upgrading of the linear accelerator. Following this, the next project would be an in-house MRI.
Safe Room Added to Project
Safe Room is shaded area
Because of recent disasters in our State - the Coffeyville flood, and the Greensburg tornado, CRMC began developing a plan to include a new safe room with the Radiation Oncology building project. In March, officials from CRMC traveled once again to Washington, D.C. to seek an additional $2 million to help with the addition of a safe room, bringing the total project to $9.5 million. The 6500 square foot safe room will be located in the basement of the new Radiation Oncology building, accommodating 38 beds and 34 wheelchairs. It will also have a dedicated elevator for evacuating patients to the safe room, and will serve as a secondary treatment room with supplies and equipment to take care of patients.
"CRMC especially wants to thank our U.S. Congressmen for their support of this project," said Marquette. A few years ago, U.S. Representative Tiahrt was instrumental in initiating legislation to add safe rooms to all new public schools. Marquette stated, "We are very grateful to U.S. Congressmen Tiahrt, Roberts and Brownback for paving the way, and for their support in helping us to get funding for this project. It makes sense that, in the event of a catastrophe such as Greensburg experienced last year, a safe room would be an asset to include in the project."
The timetable for the new building is to break ground in the fall of 2008. In 2010, the radiation therapy equipment will be purchased and installed and the building will be used for treating patients. In 2011, CRMC plans to purchase and install an in-house MRI unit, depending on funding.
For more information about this project, please contact the CRMC Administration Office at 620-252-1147.