Denver's HealthONE And Sarah Cannon Launch Cancer Care Collaborative

DENVER, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthONE family of hospitals and Sarah Cannon have formally launched an integrated cancer initiative at The Medical Center of Aurora, North Suburban Medical Center, Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Rose Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center. Through this collaboration, HealthONE is enhancing its cancer programs by joining forces with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence to fulfill the mission of advancing science and transforming care.

"HealthONE's hospitals have long been recognized for their expertise in cancer care, and by partnering with Sarah Cannon, we continue to build upon our strong reputation by delivering expanded treatment and research options for our patients," said Sylvia Young, President and CEO, HealthONE. "Our combined efforts ensure that patients across the region have access to the most innovative and personalized care, including an individualized patient navigation program to support and educate them throughout the cancer treatment journey."

Beginning in 2013, the Sarah Cannon at HealthONE Cancer Network of Excellence enhanced their clinical programs by increasing services for treatments, physician leadership, and patient access to care and clinical trials. The Colorado Blood Cancer Institute (CBCI) is enrolling patients in Sarah Cannon clinical trials, providing access to breakthrough therapies. Dr. Jeffrey Matous with CBCI stated, "Teaming with Sarah Cannon provides HealthONE patients and physicians the earliest possible access to clinical trials of promising drugs, which can be life-changing for patients who are battling all types of cancer."

Additionally, Sarah Cannon at HealthONE physician workgroups have guided development of comprehensive breast and lung cancer programs, further strengthening the breadth of cancer expertise here in Denver. By the end of 2014, HealthONE and Sarah Cannon will fully integrate their cancer services to positively impact care from screening and diagnosis through treatment to survivorship.

"The battle against cancer requires a team of committed experts," said Dee Anna Smith, CEO, Sarah Cannon. "It takes doctors, researchers, nurses, support staff, caregivers and patients banding together to move the fight forward — and through our integrated approach with HealthONE, we are providing such support and expert care to patients throughout Denver and the surrounding region."

This Sarah Cannon and HealthONE approach to fighting cancer will be highlighted in an integrated awareness campaign, Together, that can be seen throughout the Denver area in print, television, radio, and online communication efforts, and by visiting FightingCancerTogether.com.

HealthONE

HealthONE is the largest healthcare system in the metro Denver area with more than 10,000 employees.  As part of the HealthONE family, The Medical Center of Aurora, North Suburban Medical Center, Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Rose Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital work together to provide a higher level of care. In addition, our family of services includes four hospital outpatient provider emergency departments and numerous ambulatory surgery centers, occupational medicine & rehabilitation clinics, physician practices, radiation oncology centers, and AIRLIFE-DENVER, which provides critical care air and ground transportation across a 10-state region.

To learn more about the HealthONE family, go to HealthONECares.com.

Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence                                            

Sarah Cannon is the cancer service line of HealthONE's parent company, the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which advances science and transforms care in communities across the United States and United Kingdom. While the care service line was launched in 2011, Sarah Cannon has had a rich history in clinical research beginning in 1993 when its research investigators brought clinical trials into the community setting. The global network's cancer care reach includes individualized patient navigation provided by oncology-trained nurse navigators, experience with more than 110 first-in-man clinical trials conducted, more than 800 stem cell transplants performed annually throughout the Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network and the first community-based molecular profiling program. Through its programs, Sarah Cannon Cancer Network of Excellence is providing state-of-the- art cancer care close to home for hundreds of thousands of patients, a number unmatched by any single cancer center.

To learn more about Sarah Cannon, go to sarahcannon.com.

SOURCE HealthONE