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originally
posted on June 11, 2001
ANN ARBOR, MI - St.
John Health System has signed an affiliation agreement
with the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) to become
part of the University of
Michigan Cancer Center Network (UMCCN), a growing group
of select hospitals and physician practices throughout the
region dedicated to improving cancer care.
"As one of the largest providers of cancer care
in the state, we are excited to partner with the U-M, which
is recognized nationally in cancer research and treatment,"
says Elliot Joseph, president and CEO of St. John Health System.
"Together, we see over 14,000 new cancer cases every year,
making us the leader in cancer care treatment in this region,"
he says. "We know that approximately 85% of cancer services
are rendered in the community and expect this partnership
will greatly benefit the community by improving access to
advanced treatment and research protocols for the thousands
of patients we serve through six counties," he says.
"As a National
Cancer Institute-designated 'comprehensive' center, we
are able to offer our patients access to cutting-edge treatments
developed at the NCI and from our own strong basic science
research program," says Max S. Wicha, MD, director of the
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Our agreement with St. John
Health System - one of the major providers of cancer care
in the Detroit urban and suburban areas - increases the number
of cancer patients who can benefit from these treatment advances.
It allows patients to receive the latest care close to home
and access, if needed, the specialized clinics of one of the
top cancer care programs in the country."
Specifically, the affiliation will focus on
several objectives, including:
- Joint promotion of and increased coordination and participation
in clinical research trials.
Joining forces is expected to benefit patients by increasing
the number of participants in clinical trials, which in
turn may lead to better treatment options for patients.
- The use of standardized cancer care guidelines to track
clinical outcomes.
- Collaboration on cancer treatments and initiatives to
improve quality.
- Education of consumers, patients, physicians and other
providers about cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment,
rehabilitation and care in a coordinated, systematic approach.
The affiliation agreement involves all hospitals
affiliated with St. John Health System. Providence
Hospital and Medical Centers, SJHS's newest member, is
already affiliated with the U-M. Meanwhile, talks will continue
involving an expanded affiliation with the Michigan Region
of Ascension Health, the parent organization of SJHS as well
as Ascension
Health, the largest Catholic health system in the country,
spanning 15 states. Ascension Health's Michigan Region, in
addition to SJHS, also includes Borgess
Heath Alliance, Kalamazoo; St. Mary's
Medical Center, Saginaw; St. Joseph Health System, Tawas City;
and Genesys
Health System in Flint.
T"SJHS sees over 5000 new cancer cases every year representing
more than 10% of all new cancer cases in the state," says
Joseph. "Within the Michigan Region, our hospitals see over
one-fifth of all new cancer cases, which can be tremendously
beneficial in dramatically increasing the number of patients
participating in clinical trials with the U-M as well as partnering
in prevention and advanced treatment for patients."
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Background
on SJHS and UMCCC
St. John Health System (SJHS) is a growing
network of community-based health care services and one of
the largest employers in metro Detroit with approximately
20,000 employees. St. John provides comprehensive prevention,
primary care and treatment programs with approximately 3,200
physicians, 125 outpatient centers and ten hospitals spanning
six counties.
These include:
- St. John Hospital and Medical Center
- St. John NorthEast Community Hospital and St. John Detroit
Riverview Hospital in Wayne County;
- St. John North Shores Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital
in Macomb County;
- St. John Oakland Hospital, Providence Hospital and Medical
Centers and POH Medical Center (an affiliated hospital)
in Oakland County;
- St. John River District Hospital and Port Huron Hospital
(an affiliated hospital) in St. Clair County.
SJHS is affiliated with Wayne State
University School of Medicine, Michigan State
University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Oakland
University's Meadowbrook Health Enhancement Institute
and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.
It also includes Eastwood Clinics, the largest
mental health and substance abuse treatment network in Michigan
and several nursing homes. SJHS is the leading provider in
the state for open-heart surgery and births. More than 1,500
open heart procedures are performed every year and more than
10,000 babies are delivered through the system hospitals.
St. John Health System also treats 5,200 cancer patients each
year making it the third largest cancer program in the state.
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center (UMCCC) was established in 1986 and shortly thereafter
designated a "comprehensive" center by the National
Cancer Institute. Only a small number of centers in the
country hold this title by achieving the highest standards
in patient care, engaging in significant prevention and research
activities, and developing strong community outreach programs.
The UMCCC is one of the top centers nationally
in grant funding for cancer research and has more than 200
clinicians and researchers who work together in multidisciplinary
teams to rapidly bring the latest discoveries to nearly 30
cancer care clinics.
Patients also have access to more than 200
clinical trials, as well as state-of-the-art treatment
guidelines developed by the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network> - an alliance of 18 premier
cancer centers including UMCCC, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and
MD Anderson.
The UMCCC has been ranked 15th among
the top 50 cancer centers in the country, according
to the latest U.S.
News & World Report survey. And in 1999 a poll conducted
by the Detroit
Free Press, metro Detroit residents listed U-M as their
No. 1 choice for cancer care.
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