$6 Million Grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust helps Holy Rosary to provide radiation oncology care to Miles City and surrounding communities
A new, state-of-the-art cancer center has opened at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital thanks in part to the support of a $6 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Rural eastern Montana cancer patients can now receive radiation oncology services in addition to medical and surgical oncology services with the opening of the new 12,000-square-foot center at Holy Rosary. The center eliminates much of the distance and access barriers patients experienced in receiving care in the region. Before, patients needing radiation oncology treatment may have had to travel long distances to receive that care, potentially impacting their treatment plans and outcomes. The new center is the only comprehensive cancer center within a 125-mile radius.
“Every year, our dedicated oncology team at Holy Rosary cares for patients through more than 1,500 infusion treatments and more than 500 provider visits, both onsite and through telehealth. As the number of patients we serve has grown year over year, we continue to grow our services to meet their needs,” shared Ben Uhlich, President and Chief Nursing Officer of Holy Rosary Hospital. “With the opening of this new cancer center and now offering radiation oncology services at Holy Rosary, we will be able to serve even more patients, creating equitable cancer care for the region and our rural communities.”
“The opening of the cancer center marks a transformative milestone for patients and their families in eastern Montana facing cancer diagnoses,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Helmsley is committed to improving access to health care services in rural America. This new cancer center eliminates the barrier of distance and allows patients to receive care close to home where they can be supported by family and friends.”
The new center is built on the Holy Rosary campus in Miles City, connected to the hospital and all its services. The center is home to the region’s only medical linear accelerator, which delivers radiation treatments quickly and accurately. It has a patient and caregiver-centered design with several unique elements, including large windows in medical oncology and infusion treatment areas and courtyards for caregivers and patients to improve their experience. The new center adds additional chairs and stations in the infusion treatment areas and four dedicated exam rooms.
Construction began on the project in spring 2023, and the $17 million project was completed in September. In addition to the generous funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the project was funded through capital investments by Holy Rosary and Intermountain Health and the generous support of community members.
For up-to-date information and announcements please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.