Illinois approves building of new proton therapy center

The state of Illinois’ Health Facilities Planning Board has approved the construction of the Proton Therapy Center at Central DuPage Hospital.

Construction on the 58,000-square-foot, proton therapy treatment center will begin immediately according to the center’s joint venture partners, Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) in Chicago; Radiation Oncology Consultations, Ltd. (ROCL), a Chicago-based radiation oncology group; and ProCure Treatment Centers in Bloomington, Ind.

The center is expected to begin treating patients in 2010.

“Our practice has spent more than five years trying to bring protons to Illinois so we don’t have to send our patients out of state,” said William Hartsell, MD, president of ROCL.

The joint venture said that there are currently five proton therapy centers operating in the United States, providing about 6,000 treatment slots per year. Another two centers are scheduled to open in 2009.

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