MOUNTAIN HOME - Baxter Regional Medical Center and Highlands Oncology Group picked up shovels and broke ground on their new joint cancer treatment and research facility during a groundbreaking ceremony in Mountain Home.

Highlands at Baxter Regional is expected to open next year, offering cancer patients in Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri the ability to receive their treatments closer to home.

The new 33,000 square foot all-glass building will cost $15 million to build and feature comprehensive oncology care, including chemotherapy infusion, research and clinical trial drugs. Together, both Baxter Regional and Highlands Oncology will have a staff of over 200 doctors and nurses on campus available to treat cancer patients.

Both organizations agreed their first responsibility was to make sure that patients came first, even if it costs them money.