With Hancock Health’s rapid growth has come a 60% increase in demand for PET/CT scans over the last three years —essential for early disease detection and treatment planning. Our current mobile scanner, available only one day per week, limits accessibility and creates scheduling challenges and delays in care, which is why Hancock Health recently announced the public launch of our Future in Focus fundraising campaign. This campaign aims to raise $3 million in three years to purchase a dedicated, in-house PET/CT scanner to significantly improve patient access, enhance diagnosis efficiency, and streamline treatment across oncology, neurology, cardiology, and more.
So, what are PET and CT scans and why are they so important? A PET scan produces detailed images of organs and tissues at the cellular level using a safe radiotracer, helping to detect cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Performed in conjunction with a CT scan, offering added convenience for patients since these scans can be completed back-to-back as opposed to needing multiple appointments, PET scans detect diseased cells that absorb substantial amounts of the radiotracer, which indicates a potential health problem.
We know that patients needing more immediate access to diagnostic imaging should not have to travel two to three hours, as some do now. We look forward to accommodating more patients in a more timely manner and in a convenient location close to home. At Hancock Health, infusion space expansion is already underway to accommodate growth and advanced treatments, including targeted radiopharmaceuticals for conditions like Alzheimer’s. Growth within our oncology, neurology, and cardiology service lines have built a strong case to pursue this fundraising campaign, and we are grateful for all community support to help make this goal a reality. Learn more and donate to the Future in Focus campaign by visiting https://www.hancockhealth.org/future-in-focus/.