Construction of New Radiation Oncology Center

MOREHEAD CITY — If you’re traveling on Highway 70 in Morehead, you might be wondering what’s happening at Carteret Health Care (CHC).

Following the original construction of the hospital in 1967 and a significant expansion in 2015, CHC is currently expanding its facilities again with the construction of a brand-new Radiation Oncology Center. Preparatory work for this new center began in March.

“To meet the growing demands of the community the new center will “It’s going to be pretty much triple or quadruple the size of our current radiation oncology space,” said CHC President and CEO Kyle Marek.

The total oncology project is budgeted to cost $50 million, with $10 million being raised by multiple generous donations through the Hospital Foundation.

After CHC applied for a Certificate of Need (CON), the legal document that is required to purchase certain medical equipment, the hospital received state approval to buy an additional new linear accelerator based on the volume and growth of the need for radiation treatments in Carteret County.

Once CHC received the state’s approval, it began the design process for the facility and then requested bids. The process began in 2019, and the construction of the new Radiation Oncology Center is expected to be completed at the end of 2025.

“The two big structures you currently see in the construction area are the actual vaults where the linear accelerators will be placed,” said Marek. “Steel will be next and we’re prepping now to get the steel here.”

Two linear accelerators, or radiation treatment devices, a CT simulator, two provider offices, and four exam rooms will all be housed in the building.

To fulfill the demands of CHC's current facility, two radiation oncology physicians already practice there including Dr. Kyle Rusthoven and his brother, Dr. Chad Rusthoven. They put in six to seven 12-hour shifts a week.

In addition, CHC has a locum (temporary physician) and one Medical Oncology physician. Three more Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) will bring the total number of providers at the hospital to seven.

A second phase of the project will broaden CHC's Medical Oncology facilities by renovating the hospital near the main entrance.

The renovations will be made to the Cancer Center’s Medical Oncology facility near the main entrance, extending from the front windows of the corridor to Medical Oncology's main hallway.

“When you enter the hospital’s main lobby and go to the right near the Cancer Center, you see its open space with meeting rooms, halls and a coffee shop. We will repurpose this space to expand Medical Oncology services as this space was designed with future cancer center growth in mind,” said Marek. “We will have enough room for six providers, and each provider will have two exam rooms.”

The Medical Oncology facility will also have five additional chemotherapy infusion bays installed, giving a total of twenty-four bays and double the number of patient clinic rooms.

With additional space for patient and clinicians and great capacity for treatment, the new Cancer Center improvements will provide greater access to these vital therapies. More patients will be able to be treated in Carteret County rather than having to travel two or more hours daily for treatment.

“Remaining local in town makes it easier for the patient and their support person and the entire family,” said Marek. Together we are building a future with more cancer survivors, fewer severe diagnoses, and people living longer.”

According to Marek, the community has generously supported the project to improve oncology services.

“The community’s support and trust in us inspire our efforts to always do better, be more accessible and adapt to our community’s evolving needs,” he said.