Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Granted Certificate of Public Need To Provide Radiation Cancer Services
Commonwealth of Virginia Approves Inova’s Relocation of Existing Linear Particle Accelerator Service, Allowing Residents Convenient Access to Complete Cancer Services at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Fairfax, VA – (September 15, 2009) – Inova Health System and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital are pleased to announce that a Certificate of Public Need has been granted by the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide area residents with improved access to radiation therapy services, made possible through the relocation of an existing Linear Particle Accelerator from Inova Fairfax Hospital to the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital campus.
“This is a perfect illustration of how being part of Inova Health System helps us make a big difference in the health of the community we serve. Relocation of this service will minimize the cost of delivering radiation therapy to our patients while maximizing the benefit to the lives of those who need comprehensive cancer treatments close to where they live. We could not have achieved this without the help of Inova Fairfax Hospital,” said John Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President, Inova Health System, and CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital currently provides inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy, diagnostic cancer services, surgical treatments for cancer, Brachytherapy, expert oncologists and surgeons trained in the latest minimally invasive surgery techniques, a tumor registry and an ongoing cancer committee. Planning for the new construction required to house the accelerator has already begun.
“The addition of radiation therapy as the anchor to a comprehensive and integrated cancer program meets an important healthcare need in our local community, and provides residents with the convenience of hospital-based cancer services in their own backyard,” stated Robert Reid, MD, Oncology, and President of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital’s Medical Staff.
The hospital recently added a network of services provided through the Inova Breast Care Institute and a full-time RN Breast Care Navigator to round out the offerings of its all-inclusive cancer program. “Radiation Therapy at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is a win-win proposition. It helps to reach patients in need of cancer services, while fulfilling Inova’s commitment to the communities it serves. Coupled with Inova’s Life with Cancer® program and our dedicated, comprehensive multi-disciplinary teams, we can offer patients and their families world-class care in a compassionate environment,” said Kirsten Edmiston, MD, Medical Director, Cancer Services, Inova Health System.
Other recent additions to the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital campus include a third medical office building and a new Ambulatory Surgery Center with four outpatient operating rooms. A Radiation Imaging Center, Spine Care Institute and Outpatient Physical Therapy services are expected to be added in 2010. To accommodate the increased parking demands from these additions, the hospital recently completed a new green-technology 950-space parking garage that offers free parking to all patients, visitors, physicians and staff, with convenient access to all facilities on the campus.
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is a 182-bed advanced acute-care community hospital serving the rapidly growing suburbs of Northern Virginia. Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.