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ARH To Receive Approval to Offer
Radiation Therapy Services
Alleghany Regional Hospital has been notified by the Virginia Department of Health that it will soon receive approval to offer radiation therapy services at the Low Moor facility.
“This is a very positive event for our hospital and this community,” said Daniel W. Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. “This has been a long process, and we owe much of our success in the endeavor to the community. Public support for this project has been cited as a factor in the favorable decision.” Local governments and legislators were very generous in their support through resolutions and letters, including the city of Covington, Alleghany County, Bath County, Senator Creigh Deeds, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Congressman Rick Boucher, and Delegate Jim Shuler.
“Now the work really begins,” states Chip Peal, Chief Operating Officer. “We will now proceed with plans for an 8,000 square foot addition to the hospital to house the equipment.” The cost of the project is estimated at $5.4 million to build the center and purchase the equipment.
The closest locations offering radiation therapy services are currently in Roanoke, Salem, and Lewisburg (WV). A course of radiation therapy treatment can involve as many as 25 or more treatment visits over the course of several weeks. Often debilitated, patients find themselves in need of family and friends to assist in transportation to and from the radiation therapy treatment center. Frequently family and friends juggle work schedules and other commitments to provide transportation for the cancer patient. In addition to radiation therapy treatment, cancer patients may have diagnostic tests, visits to physicians and chemotherapy. All of the demands on patients and families accentuate the need for conveniently available oncology services. If the pilgrimage for radiation therapy service is too onerous, needed treatment may be avoided.
Alleghany Regional Hospital is an acute-care hospital that provides a wide range of acute-care services including emergency medicine, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, neurology, orthopedics, surgery, pediatrics, oncology and psychiatry, among others. Its service area includes the cities of Clifton Forge and Covington; Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, and Rockbridge counties in Virginia; and Greenbrier, Summers, Monroe and Pocahontas counties in West Virginia.
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