February 3, 2007, Gainesville, Virginia -- The Cancer Center at Lake Manassas officially opened its doors to the public with a VIP Reception and Ribbon Cutting on February 2 and a community open house today. Nearly 300 people attended each day.
The February 3 reception was for invited donors, board members, public officials, including the Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Aneesh Chopra, and staff members from Fauquier Health System and Prince William Hospital. This was an opportunity to recognize the tremendous contributions from our donors and the support from the hospitals and the community in the development of The Cancer Center at Lake Manassas.
Paul and Gina Rice were recognized for their $250,000 personal donation through the Fauquier Hospital Foundation, the largest donation to the center by any individual. The Estate of Paul Mellon donated $100,000; another $310, 000 was donated by 258 donors the Fauquier Hospital Foundation for a Foundation total of $660,000. Prince William's Cancer Center fundraising campaign raised $1.8 million.
The Cancer Center at Lake Manassas is a joint partnership between Fauquier Health System and Prince William Hospital. It offers state-of-the-art radiation therapy for patients in Fauquier, Prince William, and surrounding counties.
"We are fortunate to have the most advanced radiation therapy equipment, including a linear accelerator with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. This technology delivers a greater dose of radiation to tumors while protecting surrounding tissue, lowering the likelihood of side effects," said Dr. Sanjeev K. Aggarwal, radiation oncologist and medical director for The Cancer Center.
The Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Aneesh Chopra, was in attendance for the ribbon cutting, to show his support for the center and to highlight the impact that electronic medical records (EMR) can have on delivering life-saving medical treatments more accurately and efficiently. "Both hospitals have shown tremendous vision in working together to open this much needed facility, utilizing the latest technologies, for this community," said Secretary Chopra. Secretary Chopra referenced the mandates from both our national and local leaders to increase EMR systems. President Bush has called for electronic medical records for most Americans by 2014. Governor Kaine, in 2006, established the Governor's Health Information Technology Council, and charged it to "Build public-private partnerships to increase adoption of electronic medical records for physicians in the Commonwealth."
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Rodger Baker, President and CEO of Fauquier Hospital and Chairman of the Board of The Cancer Center at Lake Manassas, and Mike Schwartz, president and CEO of Prince William Hospital, were both on hand to explain how approaching a solution to this problem together has benefited patients and families from Fauquier, Prince William, and surrounding counties.
"Each hospital was aware of this great need, but it was only when we joined together - and with much support from our communities -- that we are able to flourish and succeed in getting this much-needed facility built," said Baker.
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