Roswell Park, Catholic Health and Buffalo Medical Group Form Alliance to Expand Cancer Care in the Region
By Buffalo Medical Group | April 28 2017 | BMG News & Updates
Group to break ground on new radiation oncology center
A commitment to providing community-wide integrated cancer care to the region is the vision behind a new partnership among Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Catholic Health and Buffalo Medical Group. The partnership, named the Roswell Park Care Network, broke ground this morning, April 28, initiating construction of a 5,000-square-foot radiation oncology center located on Buffalo Medical Group’s Orchard Park campus at 3900 North Buffalo Road.
“We have been collaborating to better serve the comprehensive needs of our patients for many years,” said Joe McDonald, president & CEO of Catholic Health. “For patients and their families, it’s always easier to receive care close to home. This new partnership will foster better care coordination while providing our patients with the highest quality cancer care in a more convenient location.”
As hospitals, health systems and physician practices continue to look for opportunities to improve access to care while controlling costs, these collaborative relationships benefit patients as well as providers. “We all share a commitment to provide high-quality, patient-centered services,” said Candace Johnson, PhD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. “By formally establishing this alliance, we are ensuring access to the most advanced therapies and evidence-based medicine for patients throughout the Southtowns. Our model is based on quality assurance, but this approach happens to be convenient for patients and their families and cost-effective as well.”
This new partnership builds on the established relationships among the three providers. “We have a strong relationship with Roswell Park and Catholic Health, so it made sense to combine our resources to offer our patients enhanced cancer care services, building on what we currently provide at our facility,” said Irene Snow, MD, medical director of Buffalo Medical Group. “Looking at the need to deliver comprehensive cancer care services to the Southtowns communities, our Orchard Park location provided the perfect setting to offer these integrated services to patients throughout southern Erie County.”
The center will offer outpatient radiation therapy under the clinical oversight of Roswell Park radiation oncologists. A panel of cancer specialists – radiation oncologists, medical physicists and medical dosimetrists – will work closely together to plan, review and deliver personalized treatment for each individual patient in accordance with both national oncology treatment guidelines and the latest medical evidence.
“It is important for radiation therapy to be delivered with maximal care and precision and with comprehensive quality assurance performed by highly trained personnel,” said Michael Kuettel, MD, PhD, MBA, Barbara C. & George H. Hyde Chair of Radiation Medicine at Roswell Park and professor and chair of Radiation Medicine at the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine. “Quality of care in radiation oncology begins with medical decision-making that is based on national guidelines and is medically necessary for the patient. We think it’s important for everyone in this region to have access to this level of oncology care, and we are pleased to partner with BMG and Catholic Health to make these services more broadly and conveniently available.”
About Buffalo Medical Group: Founded in 1946, Buffalo Medical Group, P.C., is among the oldest and largest multi-specialty physician practice groups in New York State. With more than 140 primary care, specialist and sub-specialist physicians – as well as a team of more than 600 nurses, technologists and other health care professionals – BMG records more than 500,000 outpatient visits annually at its main locations in Buffalo, Williamsville and Orchard Park as well as 15 satellite sites. For more information on BMG, visit our website at www.buffalomedicalgroup.com.
About Catholic Health: As one of the largest health systems in Western New York, Catholic Health serves hundreds of thousands of patients across its network of hospitals, home and community based care services, and diagnostic and treatment centers. Its hospital network includes Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, and Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus. With a team of more than 9,000 associates and 1,600 physicians, Catholic Health integrates the most advanced clinical and information technology with a tradition of medical excellence and compassionate care to lead the transformation of healthcare in our community. For more information visit www.chsbuffalo.org.
About Roswell Park Cancer Institute: The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, RPCI is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.
Media contacts
JoAnn Cavanaugh
Public Relations Director
Catholic Health
716-706-2061
jcav@chsbuffalo.org
Annie Deck-Miller
Senior Media Relations Manager
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
716-602-5817
annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org
Joe Martone
Public Relations Director
Buffalo Medical Group
716-630-1193
jmartone@buffalomedicalgroup.com