I apologize. We on MCC get so used to using abbreviations that it has become a habit.

UFHPTI. University of Florida Hospital Proton Therapy Insitute. It is a State Facility built in 2006. Salaried doctors, like Mayo doctors are. It is located in Jacksonville Florida on same land that Shands Hospital but it is a separate facility but doctors have referral privlages at Shands Hospital and testing facilities.

The cost to build UFHPTI all the way back in 2006 was 125 million. It recently went through millions of dollars to update of all 5 gantries to the latest technology for proton radiation.

I am familiar with another proton radiation facility built around the same time in California. At first only a few proton facilities were built and available for patients. Why, because they are extremely expensive to build and until recently insurance (Medicare does cover it now) not covering.

There are many facilities now including Mayo phoenix and Mayo Rochester that have proton radiation as well as photon radiation. Mayo Jacksonville is building a new cancer facility which will offer proton radiation treatment. Right now Mayo Jacksonville only offers photon radiation and was reason I went to UFHPTI although all my original testing, biopsies, etc. were done at Mayo.

I had a second opinin done at UFHPTI were all my medical records were electronically sent to UFHPTI. UFHPTI concurred with all test results and wanted to order a PSMA for further dertemination of if cancer has spread and I had the PSMA done at Shands.