OREANDA-NEWS. November 22, 2013. A new cancer specialty center has opened in the New River Valley thanks to a collaboration between Blue Ridge Cancer Care, a practice in The US Oncology Network, and LewisGale Regional Health System. Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 13,000-square-foot-facility located at 2600 Research Center Drive.

"With the growing demand for community cancer care, this new facility offers patients throughout Southwest Virginia access to Blue Ridge Cancer Care's array of oncology and hematology services, coupled  with complementary services from LewisGale Regional Health System, all in one convenient location," said Greg Cain, executive director, Blue Ridge Cancer Care.

The center is the new home for Blue Ridge Cancer Care in the New River Valley, doubling the size of its previous location to 12,000 square feet. The clinic includes 20 chemotherapy infusion bays, community facilities for support groups and events, and a pharmacy for onsite chemotherapy admixture. Other services include research, clinical trials, a full service laboratory and benefit specialists to assist patients.

"Our new cancer center will continue to offer patients throughout Southwest Virginia state-of-the-art care and access to cutting-edge research, all in a convenient setting close to their homes," said Harry McCoy, M.D., medical oncologist, Blue Ridge Cancer Care. "We are proud to provide our patients with top of the line treatment options in a comfortable, compassionate environment. With a growing research and clinical trials program, this facility will enable more patients to have access to these valuable services. My physician colleagues, and our nurses and staff look forward to continuing our long-standing commitment to our community by serving more patients through this new location."

The new facility will also house LewisGale Regional Cancer Clinic Montgomery. The 1,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open early next year and will offer complementary cancer services.

"Our long-standing relationship with Blue Ridge Cancer Care in this region and at our hospital makes this new collaboration a natural next step for expanding cancer services in the New River Valley and providing patients with a more complete spectrum of care to meet their needs," said Alan Fabian, CEO, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery. "Our goal is to provide high-quality specialty care close to home for these cancer patients. The center's close proximity to our hospital also means they will have quick access to an array of advanced healthcare services including diagnostic imaging such as CT and MRI."

About LewisGale Regional Cancer Clinic Montgomery
LewisGale Blacksburg Specialty Center will offer complementary cancer care services. The center is part of LewisGale Regional Health System which includes 38 HCA-owned patient care facilities including 4 hospitals, 2 regional cancer centers, 6 outpatient centers and affiliations with nearly 700 physicians. For more information see www.lewisgale.com.

About Blue Ridge Cancer Care

Blue Ridge Cancer Care (BRCC) is an independent private practice of 18 physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders. BRCC's nine convenient locations throughout the southwest region of Virginia provide comprehensive and cutting-edge cancer care closer to where patients live. BRCC provides a number of services and treatments including medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, genetic risk assessment and clinical research. BRCC physicians have trained at prestigious medical schools and have developed a model for care that maximizes patient and family convenience. BRCC's team provides the optimal physician and emotional support for cancer patients and their caregivers, realizing that each cancer diagnosis is different and each treatment plan should be too.

Blue Ridge Cancer Care is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation's largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, BRCC is united with nearly 1,000 physicians nationwide. Blue Ridge Cancer Care participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in the development of 47 FDA approved cancer therapies. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.