Ochsner Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have partnered to enhance cancer care across Louisiana.
Ochsner, a network of 46 hospitals based in New Orleans, along with seven other health systems have adopted Houston-based MD Anderson’s cancer treatment plans and standards. In the first phase of the clinical affiliation, MD Anderson will certify seven hospitals and cancer centers, giving the facilities access to clinical trials and MD Anderson’s network of experts. Organizations did not provide an implementation timeline for the first or additional phase.
“We are able to bring unbelievable new cancer treatments to the community, with the power of our brand and our expertise,” adds MD Anderson President Dr. Peter Pisters, adding that These partnerships will promote enrollment and diversity among clinical trial participants and accelerate the clinical trial process. “Ochsner has deep experience in clinical research.”
Pisters said Ochsner and MD Anderson have been working together informally since 2019 to strengthen infrastructure and treatment plans for Ochsner.
MD Anderson’s Health System Partnership is essentially about creating centers of excellence. MD Anderson expands its brand into different cities, while its health system partners benefit from experts, care models and name recognition. In addition to expanding clinical trials, MD Anderson often helps its partners identify and close various care gaps, such as how cancer drugs are processed, mixed, and distributed; quality control of radiation therapy; and the configuration of the linear accelerator, Pisters said. Health system affiliates often attract independent medical practices in the same or adjacent communities, he said, as well as MD Anderson doctors and staff looking to relocate. .
Ultimately, MD Anderson aims to help improve patient outcomes at its partner systems so they match the quality of Houston-based facilities, Pisters said.
MD Anderson’s other health system partners are Phoenix-based Banner Health; Cooper University Healthcare is based in Camden, New Jersey; Baptist Health Authority based in Jacksonville, Florida; Indianapolis-based Community Health Network; UT Health San Antonio and Scripps Health are headquartered in San Diego.
Cancer centers have continued to grow their networks through partnerships and acquisitions. City of Hope acquired Cancer Treatment Centers of America in February 2022, expanding the Los Angeles-based organization to Arizona, Illinois, and Georgia. New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has also formed clinical links with health systems since 2013.
