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St. John system agrees to affiliate with U-M’s Cancer Center Network

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

By Kara Gavin
Health System Public Relations

St. John Health System has signed an affiliation agreement with the Health System to become part of the U-M’s Cancer Center Network, a group of 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.

“Together, we see over 14,000 new cancer cases every year, making us the leader in cancer care treatment in this region,” Joseph says.

“We know that approximately 85 percent 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.”

“As a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-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, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“Our agreement with St. John Health System increases the number of cancer patients who can benefit from these treatment advances,” Wicha adds.

Specifically, the affiliation will focus on several objectives, including:

  • 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.