Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Erlanger Making Plans For Cyberknife Center For Advanced Cancer Treatment

from The Chattanoogan.com

>>Erlanger Medical Center officials plan to ask for a certificate of need for a Cyberknife Center for advanced cancer treatment.

Officials said, if approved, Erlanger will be the only health care facility within a 100-mile radius to offer such treatment.

Cyberknife "elevates the standard of care by introducing targeted radiosurgery to anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy often providing treatment opportunities that would not have been otherwise available to formerly untreatable patients," it was stated.

It also brings a reduction in time in treatment time and costs, officials said.

There are similar centers in Nashville, Knoxville and Kennesaw, Ga.

The plan is for Erlanger to enter into a joint agreement with Cyberknife with the medical center having a 51 percent joint ownership in profits and loss.

Initial investment is $1.2 million with Erlanger's share at $612,000.

Total cost of the Cyberknife equipment is $6 million.

It would be placed in the Miller Eye Center.

Officials said Erlanger currently holds second place in current market share for cancer care services.

Erlanger expects a positive return on investment in year five of the operation.

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