CHC Cancer Center FAQ
Cascade Healthcare Community recently announced its intention to build an integrated, comprehensive cancer center in Central Oregon . The following are answers to some frequently asked questions about the project.
Why is CHC interested in building a new cancer center?
Nearly 1,100 residents in Central Oregon will be stricken with cancer this year. If we look across the state, that number grows to nearly 20,000. Our region already offers high-quality cancer services, but they are fragmented across multiple provider locations. A cancer patient who is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation must visit multiple facilities to receive the full continuum of care. To support our residents throughout their battle with cancer, CHC sees a critical need to bring cancer services and resources under one roof. CHC realizes that as the largest health care system east of the Cascades, we have the means to coordinate all cancer services into one integrated center.
Why is CHC interested in pursuing the creation of a cancer center now?
We believe an integrated cancer treatment center has been a critical need in Central Oregon for years. CHC leaders have identified coordination and expansion of cancer care as a top priority and are moving quickly toward that goal.
Is CHC considering partnering with another provider to develop the cancer center?
We are currently looking at multiple models, but what we do know is that improving the coordination of cancer care and services will require collaboration among all providers of cancer services in the area. Legal restrictions make formal business partnerships difficult, but CHC is exploring ways to work with other providers to improve coordination of patient care and also to stay compliant with all regulations. The exact form of these relationships is yet to be determined and will be an important part of CHC’s planning.
The new cancer center will involve area physicians who currently work with CHC to provide patients with cancer treatment services. This will be a center of treatment, but also a center for clinical research, collaboration and sharing of ideas for our regional providers.
How much will the new center cost, how will it be funded, when will construction begin and where will it be located?
We are in the early stages of development and are just beginning to scope out the size, cost, location and other details. We look forward to sharing these details publicly as they become available.
What are the expected benefits of the new cancer center to our communities?
The new center will provide integrated treatment, world-class care and peace of mind for our patients. When diagnosed with cancer, we believe patients will be comforted to know their radiation provider will be down the hall from their chemotherapy provider, who will be across the way from imaging and patient and family support. We expect a substantial community benefit of innovative new therapies, medical oncology, radiation oncology, nutrition, survivorship, community education and more to develop within the center’s walls.
What components of cancer treatment will be included?
The elements of cancer treatment vary greatly depending on the type of cancer and approach to treatment. As CHC evaluated the region’s needs, we chose to focus on a specific set of cancer treatments that will provide continued care and serve the largest population. These services include expanded early screening and detection, community education, family resources, patient support, full radiation oncology, medical oncology (chemotherapy and infusion), survivorship programs, nutrition, and support for end-of-life care. CHC’s plans are to build a center that allows for future expansion. Our plans include design features that allow for future expansion, as well.
Will the new center result in higher costs of care for patients?
We expect the new cancer treatment center to actually help reduce the cost of patient care by providing all services under one roof and improving efficiencies in billing and patient services.
Don’t we already have a cancer center?
The St. Charles Regional Cancer Treatment Center currently provides a variety of treatments and resources, including screening and detection, imaging, surgery, radiation oncology, inpatient chemotherapy and infusion and survivorship programs. Our proposed new center will allow us to expand existing programs and add new programs such as medical oncology and end-of-life support, as well as research opportunities for providers. Importantly, it will also provide a single location for all providers of cancer care to come together to plan and coordinate patient care.
Will services be offered outside of Bend?
We look at the new cancer treatment center as a hub-and-spoke model of care. The central cancer treatment center, which will most likely be located on the St. Charles Bend campus, will be the main integrated center, but we expect treatment locations to extend out into the communities we serve. Much cancer treatment is outpatient in nature and takes place over several weeks time. Resources will be shared across our entire region to allow care as close to home as possible. We also envision the CHC Cancer Center as being a clearinghouse for physicians and researchers outside of our service area.
Will there be a fundraising effort to support the new cancer center?
Yes. The St. Charles Foundation will conduct fundraising to support the new cancer center.
Is this a joint venture? Will it be a for-profit or nonprofit entity?
Again, we are in the early stages of development, and there are several factors yet to be determined including our business model. Whether it is for profit or nonprofit, the new cancer center’s mission will follow the CHC mission of providing healing health care to all, regardless of ability to pay.