UAB Cancer Care Network brings specialized care close to patient's homes

Jun 22 2011

Often people diagnosed with cancer who don't live near a major academic medical center have limited choices for specialized cancer care close to home. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center and UAB Medicine developed the UAB Cancer Care Network to bring leading-edge care to these communities, giving patients an opportunity to stay close to home while giving doctors and nurses access to leading cancer research.

The UAB Cancer Care Network, an affiliation between the Cancer Center and community cancer centers and hospitals in Alabama and Georgia, provides access to the latest discoveries in cancer research and offers an unmatched level of expert cancer treatments in those communities.

"By working closely with our affiliates we can multiply the power of cancer research and care, while delivering premium cancer care where it is most needed," says Dr. Edward Partridge, director of the UAB Cancer Center and president of the American Cancer Society Inc. "UAB's 350 cancer scientists and clinicians are making discoveries every day, and with the UAB Cancer Care Network, we can now offer increased access to those discoveries to more communities, ultimately saving more lives."

As Alabama's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center, and the only one in a six state region, the Cancer Center will work closely with each affiliate to support their cancer center program's growth by providing access to UAB's best practices in cancer care, expanded access to leading-edge clinical trials and support services, physician and nursing education and access to research expertise and resources at a local level.

The first four UAB Cancer Care Network affiliates are the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Ga., Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Ala., Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Ala., and Russell Medical Center in Alexander City, Ala. The UAB Cancer Care Network anticipates announcing additional affiliates later this year.

The affiliates will be able to provide collaborative education and additional outreach activities to their local community members by offering enhanced access to cancer education, health screenings and information in their own areas.

The UAB Cancer Care Network builds on the Cancer Center's strengths as one of the nation's leading cancer research and treatment centers - many of the physicians and researchers are internationally and nationally recognized oncologists. The Cancer Center treats an estimated 5,000 new patients each year and is committed to providing the highest quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer.

Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham