In an announcement made by Louisiana Economic Development last week, Provision Healthcare will be making a $100 million capital investment in its new Louisiana Proton Therapy Center in New Orleans. The cancer research center will take up 30,000 square feet on the University Medical Center campus.
Provision Healthcare is a Tennessee company with a goal of furnishing comprehensive, community-based solutions in innovative cancer care.
Currently, the nearest proton therapy centers to New Orleans is in Shreveport and Houston. “Provision will introduce a more-efficient prototype facility in New Orleans, where the company and local partners expect to draw a wide range of regional, out-of-state and out-of-country patients,” shared the Louisiana Economic Development release. “The broad geographic base is expected to drive greater medical tourism to New Orleans and increase the city’s profile as a healthcare destination.”
Dr. Terry Douglass, founder of Provision Healthcare, said they chose to invest in Louisiana because of the strength of the healthcare community in state, particularly in New Orleans.
Provision Healthcare will work closely with LCMC Health and LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, “and the vision that they have to provide world-class cancer care,” continued Douglass.
This investment will create 63 new indirect jobs for a total of over 120 new jobs in the area. Provision Healthcare will break ground on the new center by the end of the year and plan to see patients in late 2019.