Ochsner Health has teamed up with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to increase access to cancer treatments across Louisiana, the health systems announced June 22.
Ochsner, a 46-hospital health system based in New Orleans, is the first in Louisiana to join six other health systems across the US that have partnered with MD Anderson and adopted its cancer care standards and treatment plans.
“Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center will transform the way we deliver high-quality, comprehensive cancer care to the communities we serve,” Ochsner CEO Pete November said in a statement. “Through this partnership, we aim to improve patient outcomes while supporting research that will change how we care for patients in the future.”
During the first phase of the partnership, MD Anderson plans to create the Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center and add seven Ochsner hospitals and cancer centers under the Ochsner MD Anderson brand. Houston-based MD Anderson did not provide a timeline for the first phase.
Patients at the Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center will receive multidisciplinary care options such as medical oncology, surgery, and radiation according to the “philosophy, process, and guidelines” of MD Anderson, one of the top cancer care centers in the nation. The support team includes specialists such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, and physical therapists, as well as social workers and nurse navigators—aligning with Ochsner MD Anderson’s “holistic, patient-centric” approach, according to the announcement.
Eligible patients at Ochsner MD Anderson will also be able to participate in clinical trials as part of the state’s only Phase 1 clinical trial program. Phase 1 clinical trials include patients that other treatments have not worked for, and test the safety, side effects, and dosage of new treatments.
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“Beyond MD Anderson’s accolades and top national rankings, its clinicians and researchers advance innovative therapies through clinical trials several years before they become standard practice. Now, our patients will benefit from this expanded breadth of experience and therapies in Louisiana,” Ochsner President and COO Mike Hulefeld said in a statement.
MD Anderson has a “rigorous process” for choosing partner health systems, and many potential partners do not meet the prequalification requirements, which include assessing cancer care capabilities, provider engagement, and national certifications, per the organization.
The partnership process includes strategic discussions at the CEO and board levels to identify organizations that are both a cultural and value match with MD Anderson, spokesperson Brette Peyton told Healthcare Brew. The process can take a year or more before the partnership is certified and launched.
“We seek relationships with like-minded institutions committed to delivering care through the adoption of our treatment plans and through our approach of engaging multidisciplinary care teams and quality assurance measures to ensure a higher level of care for cancer patients,” Peyton said.
Other partner health systems include Phoenix-based Banner Health; Camden, New Jersey-based Cooper University Health Care; Jacksonville-based Baptist Health; Indianapolis-based Community Health Network; San Diego-based Scripps Health; and the University of Texas Health San Antonio.