Two Terre Haute oncologists will join forces with Regional Hospital.

That partnership will benefit a lot of cancer patients in the Valley.

Construction will soon begin for a new state-of-the-art infusion center to located at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

Renovations to the hospital are underway to make the infusion center possible.

"Really, our missing link was we had infusion services here, but it wasn't really done regularly. It was done on an outpatient, as needed basis,” said Regional Hospital CEO Chris Hill. “So we're looking to put that under one roof in a state-of-the-art infusion center."

Doctors Chandra Reddy and Ashis Chakrabati are oncologists who have offices in Terre Haute, Sullivan and Brazil.

They have chosen to integrate their services with Regional Hospital, forming this new infusion center.

Dr. Reddy says oncology is becoming more and more expensive to operate.

The drugs and materials along with the specialized doctors and nurses needed to treat cancer are very costly.

Regional Hospital is part of HCA, the parent company of several hospitals across the country.

This gives Regional Hospital buying power, meaning it can get the things necessary to treat cancer at a lower cost.

"They have a better system to take drugs at a lower cost, and a better support system to reduce costs at infusion centers so that doctors, as it used to be in the olden days, concentrate on the patient and not be burdened with costs," said Dr. Reddy.

"From the patient perspective, we will continue to provide the same quality care that we have always.. Same doctors.. Same nurses," said Dr. Chakrabati.

The doctors will continue to operate their Hope Center and Hux Center offices, plus they will maintain their privileges at Union, Sullivan County Community and St. Vincent Clay hospitals.

The new infusion center at Regional Hospital should open in January.