ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) – Hospital representatives in the northeastern part of the state have united behind a plan for a regional cancer center and intend to seek state approval in the next week.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., is teaming up with seven area hospitals, including Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, to build an estimated $7 million oncology center in St. Johnsbury, aiding hundreds of area cancer patients.

Littleton Regional Hospital was considering vying for its own center. Recently, however, that hospital pulled out of the race, giving Northeastern less concern as it applies for a state permit.

Northeastern Chief Executive Officer Paul Bengtson said the withdrawal by the Littleton hospital would allow it to join the cooperative effort.

The facility, he said, would be a progressive step in providing cancer care to rural communities, something he predicts may receive national attention.

The center, proposed to be built in a former Ames department store that’s now owned by the St. Johnsbury hospital, would bring the latest treatments to the area while reducing travel time for patients in need of radiation therapy.

Patients from as far away as Colebrook, N.H., and Newport City are traveling all the way to Lebanon for radiation treatment, said Bengtson, who described St. Johnsbury as a central, more convenient location.

“I’m excited this is becoming a reality,” he said. Area medical facilities that provide cancer care would be able to continue offering it and would be strengthened by the new center, he said.

In rural communities throughout the nation, oncologists are scarce – and their services even scarcer. Oncologists often travel to communities or patients commute to them for basic care. Radiation treatment is virtually unavailable in sparsely populated regions across all the states.

The research-based center would service an area of about 114,000 residents. Bengtson said the on-site specialists would provide up-to-date oncology information to other physicians that is typically only available in urban environments.

The $7 million for the construction of the facility consists of $3.3 million in building costs, $3.2 million in equipment and $500,000 in financing and administrative expenses. Of that $7 million, $2 million is slated to evolve from fund-raising efforts and $5 million would be financed.

The facility is predicted to draw more than $11.5 million in gross patient service revenue by the third year, with expenses of less than $4 million, according to the application that will be presented to the Vermont Public Oversight Commission on Wednesday.

AP-ES-11-29-03 1540EST