Cancer, Rheumatology Center Planned for Cass Regional Medical Center

HARRISONVILLE, Mo., Feb. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction will soon be underway on the Mills Cancer and Rheumatology Center at Cass Regional Medical Center.

The medical center, which has served as Cass County's hospital for nearly 60 years, has experienced significant growth in demand for its cancer, rheumatology and infusion services. Late last year, leaders from the organization met with local businessman and former Harrisonville mayor Bill Mills and asked him to consider a charitable investment in the future of cancer and rheumatology care at Cass Regional.

"The community has been so good to me and my family that it seemed a perfect way to give back when Cass Regional approached me about this project," said Mills, who is the owner of Family Center Farm & Home stores.

Mills' $250,000 gift to Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation will be used to underwrite construction of the new center, which will be built on the first floor of the hospital. The present oncology/hematology, rheumatology, and infusion clinic area will expand from what is now known as the Specialists Clinic into the corridor that extends along the windows facing the Healing Garden.

Infusion capacity will expand from five bays to eight bays, and from two private infusion rooms to three rooms, one of which will be designated for patients requiring isolation.

Two new exam rooms will be added, increasing the number of rooms to six, and an additional shared provider office will be built. The space will also include an office for the patient navigator, who is a resource for newly-diagnosed cancer patients as they embark on their treatment journey.

"Cass Regional has been blessed by this extremely generous gift from the Mills family," said oncologist/hematologist Jaswinder Singh, MD, who leads the cancer care team at Cass Regional. "Our staff will continue to provide comprehensive, caring treatment. And now, through support like this, we will be able to focus efforts on making our equipment and facilities the best they can be. Gifts like this one help us on our journey to realizing this goal for Cass Regional," Singh explained.

"This is a very exciting time for the rheumatology clinic at Cass Regional," added rheumatologist Kevin Latinis, MD, PhD. "We have grown to serve the community with two providers and a full complement of excellent nurses and infusion services. Our growth has mirrored the growth in oncology, and we definitely have a need for increased clinic and infusion space. We are very thankful to Mr. Mills and proud to be a part of the Mills Cancer and Rheumatology Center."

Work on the new center is scheduled to begin later this month, with completion in the second half of 2023. The project will be done in phases so that patient care can continue uninterrupted.

"I have always used Cass Regional for my health care needs when possible," Mills added. "To be part of expanding services to ease the stress and manageability of cancer and related treatment is rewarding, and I hope my gift will bring great benefit to the area."

About Cass Regional Medical Center
As a critical access hospital, Cass Regional Medical Center maintains a 21-bed medical/surgical unit, a four-bed intensive care unit, and a 10-bed behavioral health unit. Services provided by Cass Regional Medical Center include emergency care; general and specialty surgery; and rehabilitation services which include nationally-recognized cardiac rehabilitation and diabetes education programs. The hospital offers advanced diagnostic capabilities such as MRI, CT and PET-CT scanning, digital and 3-D mammography, nuclear medicine and a nationally-accredited sleep study lab.

Specialists in nearly 20 different areas treat patients on the Cass Regional campus in either the medical center or the adjoining Rock Haven Medical Mall, which is home to Cass Regional's Rock Haven Specialty Clinic, Cass Regional Orthopedics, and Harrisonville Medical Clinic (family medicine, general surgery, and ear, nose and throat). The Wound Center at Rock Haven Specialty Clinic provides comprehensive treatment for chronic, slow-to-heal and serious wounds. Cass Regional also operates five additional family medicine clinics in the communities of Archie, Garden City, Kingsville, Peculiar and Pleasant Hill. For more information, visit www.cassregional.org.

SOURCE Cass Regional Medical Center