Covenant Radiation Center Expanding, Adding Second Linear Accelerator to Support Radiation Therapy; Construction Underway

As part of the health system’s commitment to maintaining a quality-driven, state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility, Covenant HealthCare is adding a second linear accelerator to the Covenant Radiation Center. In 2016, Covenant unveiled the first linear accelerator at the radiation center. In 2017, the team of cancer providers saw the need to add additional resources in the fight against cancer. After State approval in spring of 2018, construction began at 4141 Tittabawassee Road, Saginaw. Construction will continue through the summer and will be followed by rigorous testing. The second system will begin treating patients in February of 2019, allowing the radiation team to treat more patients with shorter wait-times.

The expansion will include a second vault to house the second linear accelerator, the Elekta Versa HD. Included in the addition is 3,615 square feet of new construction and 3,430 square feet of renovated space.

The Versa HD by Elekta leverages the latest technology to enable sophisticated approaches to traditionally challenging cases. The system’s patented technology allows precise targeting of the tumor, allowing Covenant Radiation Center clinicians to administer higher doses that can enhance treatment effectiveness, while protecting critical structures such as the heart, spine, or bladder. The result is highly precise treatments with shorter treatment times, and the ability to offer highly advanced treatments while minimizing side effects and enhancing our patients’ quality of life. Versa HD allows Covenant to safely and efficiently deliver conventional radiation treatment to treat a broad spectrum of tumors throughout the body. It also allows treatment of highly complex cancers that require extreme targeting precision.

Dr. James Fugazzi, Medical Director of the Covenant Radiation Center, says the second linear accelerator will be equipped with BrainLab technology. “This will allow Covenant to offer stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), the most sophisticated radiation treatments, to patients with small brain tumors,” Dr. Fugazzi states. “This allows us to deliver very high doses of radiation to an extremely small tumor. SRS is very convenient for patients as they only need to come in for a few treatments (often one).”

The Covenant Radiation Center has a highly-trained treatment team of experts including radiation oncologists, registered nurses, radiation therapists, a social worker, dietitians and support staff who provide specialize care for patients and their loved ones. To learn more about the Covenant Cancer Center, visit www.covenantcancercare.com.