North Carolina released their 2014 Medical Facilities Plan to help determine the need for new healthcare facilities and services in the state. The development of the plan was directed by the State Health Coordinating Council.
The plan discusses the state’s need for technology and equipment and for MRI scanners, Lithotripsy, Gamma Knife, Linear Accelerators, PET Scanners, and Cardiac Catheterization Equipment. According to the plan, there is a need for mobile and fixed MRIs, and for one linear accelerator.
The plan finds that MRI technology can be mobile and apparently financially feasible at relatively small volume mobile sites. Geographic accessibility is very important to assure that the rural areas of the state have access to MRI technology through both fixed and mobile scanners. However, because of the need to house a unit in a specially constructed building or area of a building, the cost of each new fixed facility may exceed $2,000,000.
The use of MRI technology has grown rapidly because it does not expose patients to ionizing radiation and because of the quality of images obtained are of high quality. A study reports for 2011-2012, that affixed and mobile scanners provided 791,443 procedures in the state.
As for mobile MRIs, the technology needs to be accessible within a reasonable distance and provide for reasonable travel time to all populations in North Carolina. However, several mobile sites in operation in 2011-2012 reported fewer than 200 procedures.
To sum up, there is a need for one additional fixed MRI scanner in North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County service area, one additional fixed MRI canner in the Orange County service area, and one fixed MRI scanner at the Person Memorial service area.
In addition, the State has a need for one additional Linear Accelerator. Today, there are 71 hospitals and freestanding oncology treatment centers statewide in the state with 121 linear accelerators in place.
Radiation therapy is used to treat about half of all cancers. Cancer cells are destroyed with ionizing radiation while limiting damage to non-cancerous tissue. Linear accelerators are now the instruments of choice because most are capable of producing either electron or photon beams at variable energy levels.
In recent years, radiation therapy has been offered increasingly in comprehensive oncology programs where medical oncologists and hematologists also offer chemotherapy. Most programs are associated with general hospitals, but some are freestanding. A new radiation oncology facility with all of the necessary equipment can cost in excess of $2,000,000.
In addition to a linear accelerator, every radiation oncology program uses a treatment simulator to aid in treatment planning, a computer for calculating dosages, and devices to protect non-targeted areas from radiation. One simulator can cost $200,000 to $400,000 and can serve a facility with three linear accelerators or serve multiple facilities.
Go to www.ncdehhs.gov/dhsr/ncsmfp to view the North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan or call 919-855-3865.