Salina Regional Health Center joins Midwest Cancer Alliance

Oct 14, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Joining a network of hospitals across the state to enhance access to cutting-edge clinical trials and increase collaboration, Salina Regional Health Center joins the Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA) Clinical Trials Network as its newest member.

The MCA fosters collaboration among hospitals, including Goodland Regional Medical Center, Promise Regional Medical Center, Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, Hays Medical Center, Stormont-Vail HealthCare, St. Francis Health Center, and The University of Kansas Hospital. Collectively, the members strive to enhance cancer care across the region.

As the only cancer alliance in the Heartland, the MCA fosters collaboration and provides strong support to community oncologists. Patients have access to cutting-edge clinical trials, innovative prevention, early detection and survivorship techniques, cancer screenings and the delivery of comprehensive care right in their own communities.

“We are proud to have Salina Regional Health Center join as our newest member of the network,” said Gary Doolittle, MD, medical director of the Midwest Cancer Alliance Clinical Trials Network. “Salina Regional Health Center has a state-of-the-art facility at the Tammy Walker Cancer Center, and we hope to leverage the strong foundation they have established to ensure patients in that community have all the treatment options when they are diagnosed with cancer.”

The MCA strengthens the link from The University of Kansas Cancer Center's research laboratories to community-based oncologists across the Heartland by pushing new discoveries out to partner sites through clinical trials.

“We know by increasing access to cutting-edge clinical trials, patients will not have to travel to have more options to treat their cancer,” said Roy Jensen, MD, director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

In addition to accelerating the translation of cancer research discoveries to alliance members, MCA members have access to second-opinion and consultation services through on-site tele-oncology, allowing patients to be seen by an oncologist at The University of Kansas Cancer Center without having to travel.

For more information about the Midwest Cancer Alliance, visit http://www.midwestcanceralliance.org/.