George Leonhardt & Deborah Price

BUFFALO, NY – During a news conference today at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) in Bradford, PA, officials from BRMC and Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo signed a regional affiliation network agreement to enhance oncology and hematology programs through research, education, and patient care in the Northwestern Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier of New York. As part of the agreement, patients in BRMC’s cancer care program will be able to enroll in RPCI clinical trials and BRMC medical staff may participate in RPCI’s continuing medical education activities.

"Through our Board of Directors’ comprehensive work on our Strategic Plan, we knew that cancer care was a key initiative for us in this new century of health care services at BRMC," explained BRMC President/CEO George E. Leonhardt. "As part of that decision, aligning with a National Cancer Institute-designated organization of Roswell Park’s worldwide status, quality and cutting edge reputation was just a great match to our mission."

"With this affiliation, Roswell Park continues to expand its academic, research and clinical activities to enhance community-based delivery of cancer care," said David C. Hohn, MD, President and CEO, RPCI. "We welcome this opportunity to join forces with our colleagues at BRMC to make access to quality cancer care easier for all patients in the region."

In December 2006 BRMC will open a newly-constructed and expanded medical oncology suite as part of a major $14.5 million expansion and modernization project on its main campus. Efforts are underway to recruit a full-time medical oncologist who will provide services to patients at BRMC’s Cancer Care Center and will also serve as a member of the RPCI faculty. Hospital officials said the new medical staff member will live in the Bradford area.

Dr. David Godfrey, Vice President of Medical Affairs at BRMC, said the historical agreement heralds new opportunities for the Medical Center’s key consumers – the patients. “While collaborations for research and educational opportunities will be initiated, it’s quality patient care that’s at the heart of this agreement, including the availability of clinical trials,” he noted.

Physicians at RPCI will be available to consult on cancer cases, providing an added layer of knowledge and expertise to benefit patients while they receive treatment close to home. If a patient’s treatment protocol necessitates a trip to Buffalo, RPCI specialists will remain in close contact with the patient’s community physician.     

“For these two health care organizations so steeped in history and community commitment, this agreement will pave the way for both parties to develop innovative collaborative educational and research endeavors,” said Donald Trump, MD, Associate Director, RPCI. “The affiliation will provide exciting and dynamic opportunities to promote the academic and clinical missions of both Institutions.” 

Other members of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Regional Network include Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, NY and Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY.

Bradford Regional Medical Center, a comprehensive care hospital in Northwest Pennsylvania, offers patients and their families in McKean County and surrounding communities a full range of diagnostic and medical services. The state-of-the-art facility is linked to a network of home health services, outpatient care centers and primary care physicians which provide patients with a broad continuum of care. For additional information, individuals can call Cancer Care & Hematology Services at the Medical Center at 814-362-8425 or log onto www.brmc.com.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

 

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