MADISON, Wis. – UW Health has selected Hitachi, Ltd. to provide the infrastructure to support proton therapy at UW Health Eastpark Medical Center.
Hitachi will provide equipment and technology to support UW Health’s traditional proton therapy room that will be equipped with spot scanning irradiation technology, a 360° rotating gantry with cone-beam CT, and real-time image Gated Proton Therapy, as well as the revolutionary upright proton therapy room coming to UW Health from Leo Cancer Care, according to Dr. Paul Harari, radiation oncologist, UW Health, and chair of the Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
“We’re excited to reach this important milestone to offer state-of-the-art proton therapy at UW Health,” Harari said. “It’s particularly significant to link Hitachi, an experienced proton provider, a new technology from Leo Cancer Care and a major academic medical center with a track record of cutting-edge technology development and implementation, together on behalf of cancer patients.”
UW Health worked closely with Proton International, a consulting organization dedicated to connecting hospitals and physicians with proton specialists and developing state-of-the-art proton therapy facilities.
“The team at Proton International is excited to help UW Health bring this important technology to the people of Wisconsin,” said Chris Chandler, CEO, Proton International. “We also believe that Leo Cancer Care’s upright treatment room is an important innovation that will help patients and we look forward to working on the project implementation.”
“We feel privileged that we were selected by UW Health, one of the top healthcare institutions in the nation,” said Hiroyuki Itami, general manager, Smart Therapy Division, Hitachi. “We are also thrilled to partner with Leo Cancer Care and Proton International to achieve a new innovative proton therapy solution. Hitachi is committed to supporting people’s quality of life through technical advancement.”
UW Health broke ground on Eastpark Medical Center in May and it is expected to open in 2024.