A regional cancer center is coming to Slidell

The Northshore will have its own regional cancer center next fall. Slidell Memorial Hospital breaks ground this morning on a $19 million one-stop center, scheduled to open in late 2010. The new facility is in Legacy Medical Park at 1150 Robert Blvd., across from the hospital and next to the Founder’s Building. It will centralize all of the current cancer treatments offered at Slidell Memorial, and is expected to draw patients from the entire Gulf South. Its location near the hospital will give patients access to both inpatient and outpatient services. In November 2007, area voters overwhelmingly supported a $17.5-million tax millage to create the new cancer facility. Thanks to population growth in the area, the center could be built with existing millage rates while homeowners see no increase in their tax rates. In June, St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 earned the highest bond rating in Louisiana to fund its construction. “The community’s support of this project has been overwhelming,” says hospital Chief Executive Officer Bob Hawley. “As promised, we are constructing a first-class cancer center that will provide comprehensive and coordinated care to cancer patients.” The groundbreaking begins at 8:30 a.m. at the construction site.