A provider from FirstHealth told ABC11 that its new cancer center in Pinehurst is a big deal because patients in the Sandhills previously had to go to different facilities for different parts of their treatment.
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"So radiation oncology was in the basement of the hospital, outpatient cancer center was in a building away from that," said Dr. Dan Barnes, D.O. of FirstHealth. "(W)e really felt that bringing all the services together under one roof would be a big advantage for patients."
The four-story facility that is two years in the making has palliative care, a wellness center, a yoga room, and even a healing garden.
"The building was really put together with the patient in mind. Our goal is to create an experience that is patient-centric but also really going beyond just the treatment, planning to really focus on mind, body and spirit, and also helping with the caregiver," Barnes said.
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The Medicaid expansion will grant health care to about 600,000 more low-income people in the state.
"I do think that this legislation is fantastic for the entire state in our region, and I think it'll just further enhance what we've already been doing," Barnes said.
FirstHealth is a nonprofit. Barnes said it treats all patients regardless of their ability to pay.