Harnett Health community celebrates groundbreaking ceremony for new Cancer Center and other projects

By Faith Hatton, posted Aug 29, 2023 on BizFayetteville.com

CUTLINE: From left, Dr. Istvan Pataki, Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees Member Tammy Thurman, Dr. Madhuri Vithala, Harnett County Economic Development Interim Director Angie Stewart, Harnett Health Foundation Chairperson Emeritus Cornelia Stewart, Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees Member Glenn Adams, Harnett Health President Cory Hess, Harnett Health Board Chair Walter Massey, Harnett Health Foundation Chairman Gene Lewis III, Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski and Dr. Kenneth Manning participate in the official groundbreaking Monday afternoon for the new Cancer Center and Medical Office Building on the campus of Central Harnett Hospital.

Health Professionals from around Harnett County came together on Monday, Aug 28 to celebrate the beginning of progress with the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Cancer Center and medical office building.

Located right beside the Central Harnett Hospital building at 215 Brightwater Dr in Lillington, the new $40 million, three-floor, 66,000-square-foot facility will include multiple specialists, including orthopedics; ear, nose and throat; a surgical clinic, neurology, cardiology and rheumatology.

The Cancer Center will include radiation and medical oncology, and expand the number of infusion chairs currently available at Central Harnett Hospital. Currently, radiation oncology is not available in Harnett County but is expected to be offered to local patients with this new addition.

“This has been a desperate need for this community for ages and ages, so we are incredibly humbled and proud to be able to share this new building with you folks today,” shared Harnett Health President and CEO Cory Hess.

Hess shared that their cancer program has grown about 40 percent since 2020, and continues to grow, adding that the need for a new facility is due to outgrowing their current space.

“This is something that will be truly comprehensive, a one stop shop that patients can come in, get their imaging, get their pharmacies, get their labs, their radiation, their medical oncology, all in one area. Our belief is that healthcare is delivered best locally and that this is giving us the opportunity to finally keep the majority of cancer patients here in Harnett County and be treated wholly in Harnett County,” said Hess.

Proposed plans for the Cancer Center include a linear accelerator (LINAC) that will provide radiation therapy that targets and destroys cancer cells; a CT scanner that will identify early signs of cancer; an infusion bay that will double the number of infusion chairs and provide chemotherapy to more patients; private patient rooms and consultation spaces; a volunteer office for community members who offer their time and resources to enhance cancer care; and a Radiation Oncologist that will join the Cancer Center team, bringing together all cancer care providers in one location.

Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski shared that the Harnett Health Foundation has been a cornerstone in fundraising efforts, adding that the group has raised nearly $700,000 for future equipment for the new Cancer Center.
He also gave thanks to Harnett County leaders for their partnership in helping acquire property for future developments including a new behavioral health center also announced.

“It was through their guidance and their support that the Harnett Health System and Cape Fear Valley health system have been able to acquire the 26 adjacent acres on this property all the way to the street, and what you'll see is that property will forever be dedicated to the development of additional health care facilities,” said Nagowski. “The very first facility we're going to begin to develop is an inpatient Behavioral Health Center for our adolescents in our community. It will change behavioral health in Harnett County because for those of you who are in the behavioral health space, you see it every single day.”

Nagowski shared that plans for that new facility will be released to the community as they develop.
Plans call for the new Cancer Care facility to be constructed over the next 16 months.

A full recording of the ceremony can be found on Facebook here.

Below are the current plans for the facility:

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