MIDDLESBORO, Ky. – Representatives from Appalachian Regional Healthcare gathered with local and state officials May 6 for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the construction of the $54 million ARH Advanced Oncology & Ambulatory Center at Middlesboro ARH Hospital.

The four-story, 51,000-square-foot facility will allow residents of Bell and surrounding counties an opportunity to receive comprehensive cancer services as well as general and specialized medical care, close to home.

ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris said she is excited for the project, which has long been a personal dream, to come to fruition.

“Residents of Middlesboro and the surrounding areas have had to travel an hour or more for cancer care for far too long,” said Harris, a cancer survivor who lost her own father to the disease when she was just 15. “I’ve seen and felt the toll cancer and its treatment takes on a patient and their family. It’s exhausting, both mentally and physically, but it’s made even worse when patients, often struggling to simply put one foot in front of the other, are forced to endure long car rides for treatment.

“Patients deserve local access to the best medical care possible, and we are excited to provide this long overdue service to another ARH community.”

The center will feature a team of providers who specialize in medical, radiation and surgical oncology. They will work alongside a group of oncology nurses, social workers, pathologists and radiologists to treat a variety of illnesses including blood disorders, cancer, chronic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myelodysplasia.

Additionally, a tranquil healing garden designed to support patient wellness and recovery will provide a quiet peaceful location for both patients and their families.

The ARH Advanced Oncology & Ambulatory Center takes the place of ARH’s previous plan to construct a facility that would house just a cancer center.

As such, the larger project allows for not only the construction of the much-needed oncology center, but also the addition of new office spaces which will bring key outpatient specialties together in one convenient location.

Upon completion, services housed in the ambulatory center will include OB/GYN, general surgery, orthopedics, urology, cardiology, pharmacy, imaging, laboratory and other offices that support outpatient care.

ARH Chief of Ambulatory Services Roy Milwee said the ambulatory portion of the project will allow for a more streamlined process as patients will no longer have to travel to different locations as part of their continuum of care.

“Our new ambulatory center will not only replace aging buildings that no longer meet our needs, but it will also offer a much more attractive and comfortable space for both patients as well as providers.

“Every time a patient walks through our doors, they are making a choice to trust us with their healthcare,” he continued. “That is an honor and it is something we do not take for granted. This new space will serve as a representation of both our gratitude for that trust and of our commitment to care.”

Middlesboro ARH Hospital CEO Joe Horton echoed Milwee’s statement and said he looks forward to the day the new facility opens its doors to area patients.

“This project is another opportunity for ARH to further demonstrate the same commitment to care that we’ve provided for 70 years,” he said. “It will allow us to ensure that our community has access to modern, comprehensive healthcare services for years to come.”