Siteman Cancer Center announces new network member
Phelps County Regional Medical Center joins network to reduce cancer’s impact in south central Missouri
Courtesy of Phelps County Regional Medical CenterThe Delbert Day Cancer Institute, part of Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo., has joined the Siteman Cancer Network.
The Siteman Cancer Network, a partnership with regional medical centers in Missouri, has added a new member to the network. Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla and the hospital’s Delbert Day Cancer Institute have joined the partnership, which is aimed at improving the health of people and communities through cancer research, treatment and prevention.
Through the network, patients with difficult cases can access highly specialized treatments and technologies, including clinical trials, at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Phelps County Regional Medical Center also will work with Siteman Cancer Center to provide access to cancer prevention and control strategies, and genomic and genetic testing for south central Missouri residents.
Photo courtesy of Lani Yearicks“Siteman Cancer Center and Phelps County Regional Medical Center – through the Siteman Cancer Network – are committed to preventing cancer and transforming patient care in the communities we serve,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman Cancer Center and the Bixby Professor of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. “Together, we’re working to build a healthier Missouri.”
As Missouri’s only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute and only member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Siteman Cancer Center is committed to collaborating with other health-care providers to help improve the health and well-being of the region, Eberlein said.
Key components of network affiliation include:
- Navigators to help patients coordinate access to highly specialized care for complex cases, including access to clinical trials, at Siteman Cancer Center.
- Assessment of cancer’s impact on south central Missouri and development of a plan to lessen the overall burden and measure results. Possibilities include a greater emphasis on reducing smoking rates, promoting cancer screenings and other healthy interventions.
- Use of genomic and genetic testing to help identify personalized treatments based on the characteristics of a patient’s disease.
- Development of a database that incorporates such information (with patients’ permission) to improve clinical care and patient outcomes.
- Sharing of best practices to improve patient care. Examples include sharing details regarding how nurses and radiation therapists are trained to care for oncology patients, and implementing industry-approved guidelines for screenings, genetic counseling programs and post-treatment care.
- Implementation of cancer prevention strategies, such as the use of interactive risk-assessment tools, e-books, videos and individual coaching.
- Development of targeted interventions to reduce cancer risk and of evaluation tools to measure success.
“Phelps County Regional Medical Center and the Delbert Day Cancer Institute are proud to partner with Siteman, a nationally recognized cancer center,” said Ed Clayton, CEO of the regional medical center. “This partnership will bring additional resources and care to cancer patients living in south central Missouri.”
The network’s efforts also are expected to increase the number of people screened for cancer, which should result in earlier detection and improved health outcomes.
“The Siteman Cancer Network is a natural extension of Siteman Cancer Center’s commitment to prevent cancer and transform patient care in the communities we serve,” Eberlein said.
