Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - consistent with goals as established by the U.S department of health and human services, this project will create a new…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - consistent with goals as established by the U.S department of health and human services, this project will create a new oncology access point for individuals living in the preston county, west virginia area. The project impact area is located in a medically underserved region (primary care 03725). Funds awarded to this project will be used to construct and equip a chemotherapy infusion center. Additionally, the project scope includes the renovation of the hospital's pharmacy with a chemo hood, or biosafety cabinet, which is designed to ensure the safe handling of cytotoxic agents and other hazardous drugs in pharmacy and oncology settings. This will allow oncologic care to be administered locally, in a rural area of the state of west virginia, which currently has the second highest cancer rate in the nation. IT is estimated that the 693 SF facility will add five (5) new positions. As per a study by the national institutes of health (2005) on cancer incidence across the appalachian region of the U.S. (including west virginia), incidence of specific cancers, including lung/bronchus, colon, rectum, and cervix continues to be elevated. The same study documents a high rate of unstaged cancer, specifically in rural areas, attributable to a lack of access points for initial diagnosis and oncology care. This project will help to reverse this statistic.