Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics have announced  the State of Iowa’s approval of their Certificate of Need (CON) to construct a state-of-the-art radiation treatment facility and program.

This joint venture is a multi-year initiative to develop a radiation therapy cancer program in Marion County with the first step being State approval. The proposed new radiation facility complements the existing medical oncology services provided by both hospitals in partnership with Mission Cancer + Blood and will improve the access and convenience to full-service cancer care, improving the quality of life for patients battling cancer.

“The approval to develop a radiation center is the first step to improving the quality of life for cancer patients in our service area,” said Kevin Kincaid, CEO of Knoxville Hospital & Clinics. “Time is a valued commodity that we all cherish. Providing modern, first-class cancer treatments close to home allows patients to focus on their health and return some of the most precious hours that they and their loved ones would spend traveling to facilities hours away. Our determination has brought us to this moment, and along with Pella Regional Health Center, we remain committed to bringing the most exceptional cancer care available to our patients.”

With the Certificate of Need approval, the joint venture will begin a 24-month construction project and work to build a top-quality care provider team. Preliminary work to relocate existing utilities and site preparation will begin this fall. The 7800-square-foot radiation therapy center, located on the campus of Pella Regional Health Center, will be designed to promote patient convenience and accessibility. The center will significantly reduce travel burdens for radiation oncology patients to receive their necessary care.

“Many people have already shown support for the new radiation facility and program, and we are grateful for the approval to move the project forward,” said Bob Kroese, CEO of Pella Regional Health Center. “This moment demonstrates our commitment to enhancing healthcare services in the region and improving the quality of life for our patients. We are pleased to work with Knoxville Hospital & Clinics for this joint venture. In no area of health care is coordination of care more critical than in cancer treatment.”

The radiation therapy center project is budgeted to cost $14 million, with a portion of the funding to be raised through a capital campaign organized by the hospital foundations.