RHSHC to offer oncology care

~ Partners with Cancer Treatment Centers of America-Chicago
CRESCO - Regional Health Services of Howard County (RHSHC) announced their collaboration with oncology specialists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), Chicago in Zion, IL on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. 
This alliance will offer advanced oncology care to area residents. Patients will receive coordinated care from both RHSHC and CTCA® providers. In addition, clinical telemedicine services will connect patients via real-time videoconferencing to CTCA Chicago oncologists for regular visits close to home. This collaboration marks the first CTCA coordinated cancer care alliance in the state of Iowa. 
CTCA Chicago’s Bruce Gershenhorn, DO, medical oncologist and Director of the Lung Cancer Center; Eugene Ahn, MD, medical oncologist and Medical Director of Clinical Research; Chevon Rariy, MD, endocrinologist, Medical Director of Endocrinology, and Telehealth Program Director; and Herbert H. Beck III, MD, gynecologic oncologist, together with a clinical team at RHSHC led by Dr. Paul Jensen, MD, have teamed up to launch the new coordinated care alliance. 
This collaboration will provide RHSHC area patients with access to CTCA Chicago’s expertise in the areas of medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, and hematologic oncology as well as genetic and genomic testing, clinical trials, and precision cancer treatment. 
“CTCA Chicago is excited to work with the RHSHC team to help deliver comprehensive cancer care to patients,” says CTCA medical oncologist, Dr. Ahn. “Patients in rural locations are more likely to have difficulty accessing comprehensive care and the latest treatment options. This will no longer be the case for patients in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. Through telehealth, we are able to establish and build the important patient/doctor relationship closer to home.”
Robin Schluter, CEO of Regional Health Services of Howard County, said, “This alliance with CTCA brings comprehensive cancer care closer to home for the communities we serve by offering chemotherapy and infusion services onsite in Cresco. RHSHC is proud to partner with such a well-known, world-class oncology care organization.” 
This program focuses on speed to care, taking a patient from diagnosis to the development of a personalized treatment plan typically within 3-4 business days and incorporates the convenience of telemedicine to minimize the patient’s need to travel for treatment. 
CTCA’s Dr. Rariy, MD, said, “This collaboration will bring a great benefit to patients diagnosed with cancer in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest Wisconsin for a variety of reasons. 
Patients will have access to world-class cancer care through Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chicago medical specialists. Access to these clinicians will be through a combination of telehealth visits at RHSHC and on-site appointments at CTCA in Zion, IL. 
Patients will stay closer to their family along with local support systems. For working patients, they should see less time off due to reduced transportation time and costs.”
 
How the Program Works
Each experience will be personalized based on a patient’s individual needs, however, Dr. Rariy, MD gave a brief overview on how the program will work:
• Patients will first come to RHSHC and meet with their clinician to determine if the program is a good fit.
• From there, the team will schedule a visit to CTCA in Zion, IL that meets the patient’s specific needs. CTCA will gather records, schedule appointments, and assist with scheduling travel and overnight accommodations. 
• During that visit, the CTCA team will work to provide a personalized treatment plan that may involve additional testing or consults. If no further tests are needed, the oncologist may suggest that patients begin treatment during this visit.
• Once the patient and their CTCA oncologist choose a treatment plan, the CTCA oncologist and the RHSHC team will work very closely to manage the patients through follow-up visits at RHSHC using telemedicine. 
• Depending on the treatment plan, and from time to time, patients may be required to have in-person visits and procedures at the CTCA hospital in Zion, Il. 
 
Telemedicine
Telemedicine will play a key role in this cancer care alliance. Telemedicine allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients at a distance using telecommunications technology. 
The RHSHC and CTCA Chicago telemedicine program connects CTCA medical oncologists and other healthcare professionals with patients in Cresco, using a secure system which includes a monitor and camera, allowing for access to top-quality specialized clinical cancer care close to home. 
Benefits of telemedicine include immediate access to medical specialists rather than waiting weeks or months for an appointment, the ability to stay closer to family and your local support system, less time off work, less time in a hospital setting, less time in waiting rooms, and reduced transportation time and costs. 
 
Rural Chemotherapy 
Expansion Fund
In addition to the announcement of the RHSHC and CTCA Chicago collaboration, RHSHC is partnering with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) to raise funds for project implementation expenses. 
The Rural Chemotherapy Expansion Fund will be matched, dollar-for-dollar by a donation from CUSB Bank up to $50,000. Owner of CUSB Bank Scott Thomson said, “CUSB Bank is proud to donate a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant up to $50,000 for the RHSHC and CTCA Chemo-Infusion Center. So many people in our CUSB Bank family and the community at large have been affected directly or indirectly by cancer. 
“To have the ability to receive Chemo-Infusion treatments in Howard County without having to travel a long distance is invaluable. We hope that you agree with us that we are fortunate to have a financially stable and progressive medical facility in our own county and will help us meet this important challenge.” 
To contribute to this $50,000 goal and make a significant impact on rural communities, go to the Rural Chemotherapy Expansion Fund Giving Page at www.cfneia.org. This fund will help ensure world-class cancer care for those that may not otherwise have local access. 
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) is a national oncology network of hospitals and outpatient care centers offering an integrated approach that combines surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and advancements in precision medicine with supportive therapies to manage side effects and enhance quality of life during treatment and into survivorship. CTCA® publishes treatment results annually including patient experience, length of life, quality of life, patient safety and quality of care. CTCA also offers qualified patients a range of clinical trials that may reveal new treatment options supported by scientific and investigational research. CTCA patient satisfaction scores consistently rank among the highest for all cancer care providers in the country. Visit cancercenter.com for more information.
For more information about this new coordinated cancer care alliance, please call RHSHC at 563-547-6696.
 
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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