Quick Poll

Do you think the City of Newnan should have waited until at least mid-month to begin hanging its Christmas decorations in downtown rather than the first week in November?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Friday, June 19, 2009 in Local

Special

A rendering of the CTCA hospital planned for Newnan. The new hospital will be located between Newnan Crossing Bypass and I-85, just south of JCPenney.

CTCA building hospital in Newnan

By Jeff Bishop

The Times-Herald

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) has selected Newnan as the site of a proposed cancer treatment hospital that will serve patients all over the Southeast and provide more than 500 new jobs.

CTCA President and CEO Steve Bonner said at a Thursday press conference at Newnan City Hall that the company chose Newnan and Georgia as a gateway to better serve cancer patients throughout the Southeast.

"We are pleased to propose a new cancer treatment facility in the Southeast and thrilled to select Coweta County, one of the most sought-after destinations in metro Atlanta and Georgia," said Bonner.

Initially 32 sites were under consideration in Georgia, and the number was winnowed down to three several months ago. The new hospital will be located between Newnan Crossing Bypass and I-85, just south of JCPenney.

"Cancer patients living in the Southeast will have easier access to the high-quality, individualized, comprehensive care for which CTCA is known," said Bonner.

CTCA expects the new facility to generate $500 million in economic activity over the first five years of operation. The company said it plans to invest $150 million directly. With more than two-thirds of its patients expected to come from outside the state of Georgia, patients and their families will contribute to the growth and vitality of the local economy.

The proposed fully digital Georgia facility will mark the fifth CTCA hospital to offer cancer patients a fully integrated care model, which combines traditional medical care to treat the cancer with "scientifically-supported integrative therapies" to help manage side effects, strengthen the immune system and improve the quality of life of the patients.

The company will now file a notice of intent to apply for a certificate of need with the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), whose approval is necessary before CTCA can build and operate the facility. The Georgia hospital, if approved by DCH, will have 50 inpatient beds and more than 200,000 square feet.

"We're pleased to have CTCA here in Coweta County," said Bill Harrison, president of the economic development authority. "They'll provide much-needed new jobs -- and bring a vitally important service as well as hundreds of patients and family members to our region."

"This is a huge deal," said Newnan Mayor Keith Brady. "We're very excited and pleased that CTCA has chosen Newnan as the site of their next regional hospital, and we are looking forward to the process of getting it open... It's going to have a huge economic impact."

Brady welcomed CTCA to Newnan, saying that he has heard "very positive things" from other communities where CTCA hospitals are located. CTCA serves patients with advanced cancer from all 50 states at facilities located in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Tulsa and suburban Phoenix.

He said he was "very surprised" that other hospitals he contacted that are in direct competition with CTCA spoke highly of the company.

"As part of my due diligence, I talked with the administrators of hospitals that are competitors, and they all had positive things to say," said Brady. "When I heard that, I knew CTCA would be a good fit for us."

Perhaps just as important as the economic impact will be the improved level of patient care that results from this move, Brady said.

"I dare say there is no one in this room who has not been affected by cancer, or had someone in their family affected by cancer," he said.

"I am looking forward to the groundbreaking of this new facility," said Brady.

"Having a cutting-edge cancer treatment facility like Cancer Treatment Centers of America choose Georgia further proves that our state is a destination for high-quality medical care," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue in a press release.

"Our deep reserves of talent, global access and spirit of collaboration make the state an ideal place to locate treatment and research facilities that will draw not just from Georgia, but from the entire Southeast."