Confluence Health Board Approves Construction of New Radiation Treatment Center in Moses Lake

Confluence Health announced this week that their board formally approved the building of a new state-of-the-art radiation treatment center in Moses Lake. The construction of the new $14.5 million facility represents a triumph for Moses Lake and for cancer patients in the region.

A top priority that has been in the works for several years, final approval on the construction had been held up initially due to construction costs increasing and the difficulty in finding available contractors. Despite these challenges, the Confluence Health Board felt that this project was so important to patients that decisive action was needed.

“Currently, patients undergoing radiation therapy would need to travel to Wenatchee, Spokane, or other locations, making treatment a challenge and taking time away from their families and friends,” remarked Dr. Andrew Jones, CEO of Confluence Health. “This new center will change that, and I am so pleased by the board’s leadership to make sure this happens to bring the best in radiation treatment to the Columbia Basin.”

This success is possible due to the efforts of many groups working together, including many in the community it will serve, helping this to truly be a community-minded project. Founded in 2000 as the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation, the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation focuses on providing services and support for cancer patients in both Grant and Adams County. The Confluence Health Foundation and Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation began partnering on the Your Local Cancer Care campaign in 2018. Since then, donors from throughout the region contributed $3.5 million dollars towards the cost of the Moses Lake radiation treatment center. When asked about this partnership, Abel Noah, Confluence Health Foundation vice president and executive trustee, commented, “The region’s support shows just how important this project is to everyone involved. This effort is about the care and comfort of our patients, which is the top priority for all of us.”

Additionally, through the efforts of Washington State Senator Judy Warnick (13th Legislative District), Representative Alex Ybarra (13th Legislative District), and Representative Mike Steele (12th Legislative District) who championed the project, a $1.2 million state grant was also secured for the facility. To support this goal and bring the latest in treatment to the area, Confluence Health agreed to contribute the remaining $9.8 million towards the new treatment center.

“As an oncologist in North Central Washington for the last 16 years who has taken care of innumerable cancer patients from the Columbia Basin, and as president of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, the affiliated physicians of Confluence Health, I could not be more pleased to know that our neighbors and their families will have this resource so close to home,” commented Dr. Mitchell Garrison of Confluence Health. “Radiation therapy is an integral part of cancer care and having a state-of-the-art radiation treatment center in this region will revolutionize the cancer treatment experience in Moses Lake and the surrounding areas.”

Construction is slated to begin this month with the hope that the facility will welcome its first patients in late summer 2023.

“This project represents the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people, and a whole community coming together to do something remarkable for their fellow residents,” said Staci Jones, vice president of surgical services at Confluence Health and one of those leading the project. “It’s great to see, amid so many challenges the past few years, just what can be accomplished when communities rally together. It’s inspiring and gives me great hope for the care it will allow us to provide for patients and their families.”