In economic development circles, access to medical care rates with good schools in the “quality of life” categories that help attract people and their businesses to an area.

This week, our community celebrated the opening of a center that expands the scope of medical treatments available here, enhancing the quality of life.

In its first quarter of operations, Andalusia’s new comprehensive cancer center is already administering more than 150 patient treatments a week, officials said.

The center, a partnership between Andalusia Regional Hospital, 21st Century Oncology and Sacred Heart Cancer Center, opened in August on the hospital campus. Putting that partnership together and getting it open took about three and a half years, ARH CEO Mark Dooley said.

The center features separate waiting rooms for chemo and radiation patients. There are separate changing areas for men and women in the radiation area, and the facility was done in calming colors.

Having chemotherapy and radiation treatments available locally saves the toll that travel can take on patients and their families so that they may focus their time and energy on getting better.

Each of us hopes never to have to use this center. But it is a huge asset to our community, and to the patients who need it.