MANSFIELD — Eric Draime said six patients went through radiation therapy Wednesday at Avita Health System’s recently-opened Jody M. Baker Cancer Center.
Draime, chief financial officer of Avita Health System, said the new $15 million, 20,000-square-foot comprehensive cancer center includes two pieces of state-of-the-art equipment:
— A TrueBeam linear accelerator, which offers the most precise and effective radiation therapy available.
— A new PET/CT scanner, a machine that combines PET and CT scans to create detailed images of the body.
Both pieces of equipment combined cost roughly $5 million, he said.
After deciding to finance the equipment, Draime said it was determined a tax-exempt lease would be Avita’s best option.
The CFO and Ally Kimbler, an associate at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, both attended a public hearing on Thursday with the Richland County Board of Commissioners to discuss a tax exempt lease through the Richland County Port Authority.
Kimbler said the port passed a resolution in September, approving the issuance of the bonds.
“Today we’re just here seeking the elected representatives’ (commissioners’) approval,” she said. “The Port Authority would be acting solely as the conduit. As a conduit, the amounts due under the financing are not general obligations of the Port Authority or Richland County.”
Kimbler said the resolution, approved unanimously Thursday by the Board, is for the purposes of approving tax exempt financing in the form of a master lease and a sub-lease agreement in an amount not to exceed $6 million.
The proceeds of the financing were used by Avita to obtain the linear accelerator and PET/CT scanner for the cancer center in Ontario.
Commissioner Darrell Banks thanked Draime and Avita for their investments in Richland County. Banks’ sentiments were echoed by commissioners Cliff Mears and Tony Vero.
“We’re very pleased with everything we’ve done here and support from the community has been great,” Draime said.
More about the Jody M. Baker Cancer Center
Avita’s new comprehensive cancer center was a project years in the making. It officially opened on Nov. 6.
In November, Kim Winkle, vice president of operations at Avita Health System, said donations from Randy and Lisa Payne helped make the project possible.
The name of the facility honors Lisa’s sister, Jody M. Baker, who passed away on July 11, 2022, after a nearly 25-year battle with cancer.
The new center also created 21 jobs, including six radiation oncology positions. It features medical and radiation oncology, a 16-bay infusion center, lab, PET-CT, linear accelerator for radiation, comprehensive pharmacy services and a financial counselor.
Avita will continue to offer medical oncology clinics and infusion centers in Galion and Bucyrus, giving patients additional options for care.
