HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider, and Sarah Cannon have formally launched an integrated cancer initiative to fulfill the mission of advancing science and transforming cancer care in the region. Through this collaboration, HCA Midwest Health will not only enhance its cancer programs by joining forces with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence but, effective today, the healthcare leader’s cancer service line is now called the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence (Sarah Cannon).
"HCA Midwest Health hospitals and physicians are well known throughout the region for providing comprehensive and compassionate cancer care, close to home,” says M.L. Lagarde III, President and Chief Executive Officer, HCA Midwest Health. “By partnering with Sarah Cannon, an internationally recognized and highly respected name in oncology, we build upon our strong reputation by delivering expanded treatment and research options for our patients. Our combined efforts and passion will ensure that patients across the region have better access to the most innovative and personalized care throughout the cancer treatment journey."
Sarah Cannon will enhance HCA Midwest Health’s robust clinical programs by increasing services for treatments, developing physician-led centers of excellence, and providing patients access to world-class clinical trials. Sarah Cannon has conducted more than 140 “first-in-man” clinical trials, one of the largest early-phase clinical research and drug development programs in the country. Additionally, Sarah Cannon has been involved in the development of more than half of the new cancer therapies approved in the last decade.
Through this partnership, patients will now have access to cutting-edge diagnosis and treatments in their local, community hospitals, traditionally an option only available in large academic medical institutions. This initiative includes the establishment of molecular profiling program, which will assist in the tailoring of treatment options to the genetic profile of the patient’s cancer.
“Sarah Cannon provides patients and physicians the earliest possible access to clinical trials for promising drugs, which can be life-changing for patients who are living with all types of cancer," says Darryl Nelson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, HCA Midwest Health. “In addition, the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence successfully launched a comprehensive Patient Navigation Program within HCA Midwest Health hospitals, combining efforts between physicians and oncology navigators to ensure that patients have access to the most coordinated, innovative and personalized care. This is a game-changer for patients and their families.”
Recent studies suggest that patient navigation — a service that helps patients manage the complexities of cancer care — leads to faster diagnosis and treatment for cancer, making a positive impact on patients and their families.
“As a medical oncologist looking into the eyes of a newly diagnosed cancer patient each and every day, this new partnership gives me confidence that I now have the best resources and tools at my fingertips, including innovative research, highly-trained and internationally known cancer specialists and leading-edge technology,” says Jaswinder Singh, MD, Medical Oncologist at Research Medical Center, part of HCA Midwest Health. “Patients no longer need to leave their community to have access to world-class cancer care and it gives me great pride to be a part of the new Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence.”
Sarah Cannon HCA Midwest Health has fully integrated cancer services to positively impact care from early screenings and diagnosis through treatment to survivorship.
The Sarah Cannon approach to fighting cancer is highlighted in a new video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK21wtSMpZ8&feature=player_embedded. More information can also be found visiting http://hcamidwest.com/cancer/.