Berkshire County's leading health care providers have announced a partnership to open a $30 million, state-of-the-art cancer care center in Pittsfield.
Berkshire Health Systems, the county's largest employer, and Berkshire Hematology/Oncology, the region's largest private medical practice, announced Wednesday they expect to break ground in the fall on the four-story, nearly 50,000-square-foot facility. It is expected to fully operational within three years.
Berkshire Health Systems CEO David Phelps says the center is expected to compete with other comprehensive cancer-care facilities in Springfield, Boston and Albany, N.Y.
Berkshire County has up to 700 new cancer cases each year, a number that is only expected to go up.
The Berkshire Eagle reports that the cancer center will provide a full range of services in one facility.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.