Teaming up
Presbyterian Healthcare joins the nationally recognized MD Anderson Cancer Network
Presbyterian Healthcare Services on Tuesday announced that it has joined the MD Anderson Cancer Network, giving local patients and doctors access to a nationally recognized provider of treatment and research.
The affiliation will mean doctors at Presbyterian will benefit from the most current research and treatment information and from second opinions on tough cases, according to Dr. Bernard Agbemadzo, medical director of Presbyterian Cancer Care.
Presbyterian’s radiation oncology practice has been part of MD Anderson’s network since 2006, but expanding the relationship to include its entire cancer care program means an even greater impact on patients in New Mexico, said Dr. William Murphy, chairman of the MD Anderson Physicians Network.
Presbyterian is the only hospital system in the Southwest region to be a certified member of the network.
The certification process entailed clinical practice reviews and safety evaluations.
“This is all about better patient care to be delivered in our community,” said Agbemadzo, adding that the enhanced affiliation will give Presbyterian oncology doctors and staff regular, easy access to experts in breast cancer, leukemia and other forms of cancer.
The newly enhanced collaboration also means Presbyterian patients can access MD Anderson’s 16-hospital network in those rare cases where a special drug or treatment is not available locally.
MD Anderson spent about $780 million on cancer research in 2015.
Because of its national reach, the health care provider’s services are in demand — MD Anderson deals with 130,000 cases a year — and the affiliate network enables MD Anderson to touch more patients, according to officials.
Based in Houston, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ranked No. 1 in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report list of best hospitals for cancer care.
The MD Anderson affiliation will mean annual quality audits at Presbyterian cancer treatment sites, Agbemadzo said.
A Presbyterian spokeswoman said a marketing campaign, including advertising, will roll out soon to communicate the newly enhanced affiliation to referral sources like primary care doctors and other cancer care providers.