Our Cancer Care Lives Here Through Collaboration

This year, the Premier Health Oncology Institute focused their passionate efforts on enhancing care, collaboration, and navigation for our patients close to home. Patients, such as Joanne and Dena who are highlighted in this report, remain at the center of our mission, and continue to inspire us to set and exceed our goals.

MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a network of select hospitals and health care systems dedicated to advancing MD Anderson Cancer Center’s mission of eliminating cancer and elevating the quality and accessibility of cancer care in local communities around the world. Premier Health has access to a superior level of expertise through a collaborative team approach, and our certified physicians routinely discuss challenging cases with MD Anderson cancer experts through physician-to-physician consultations. Our care team also has access to MD Anderson treatment protocols, education, research, and more. This affiliation is just one example of our commitment to offer best-in-class care for our patients close to home.

In August, MD Anderson advised Premier Health that all of our certified medical oncologists have continuously achieved greater than 90 percent concordance to guidelines in the medical oncology peer review process. Through MD Anderson’s rigorous peer review concordance process, 54 various cancer specialists have been certified through the program.

Premier Health continues to build a strong integrated network of cancer specialists, including medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists. Through our physician leadership, patients have enhanced access to new programs and services close to home such as this region’s first Comprehensive Head and Neck Cancer Program, Brain Tumor Center, Liver Cancer Center, High Risk Breast Center, Gynecological Oncology Center, and Advanced Prostate Cancer Center. Premier Health strives to bring lifesaving techniques and technology to those in Southwest Ohio who cannot make it to our clinics and hospitals through the Premier Community Health and Fidelity Health Care mobile clinic, and a mobile mammography coach operated by Atrium Medical Center.

Other advancements offered are in the areas of immunotherapies, genetic counseling and testing, radiation oncology, and clinical trials. Oncology nurse navigators are one of the most important services we offer to assist patients through their cancer journey. In 2019, we expanded the number of oncology nurse navigators, who serve as a direct connection between patients, physicians, and other cancer support and survivorship resources. New technology and tools have been recently implemented, giving our nurse navigators more time to dedicate to our patients.

Another key initiative undertaken this past year was expanding supportive integrative therapies at all Premier Health cancer centers. These holistic therapies are designed to promote well-being and improve quality of life for our patients by alleviating some of the cancer treatment side effects. Therapies offered include massage, yoga, tai chi, specialized exercise classes, support groups, lymphedema therapy, therapeutic art, nutrition and cooking classes. As we look to the year ahead, cancer education, prevention, detection, and navigation will continue to be major focus areas. The Premier Health Oncology Institute’s goal is to strengthen our proactive approach to care and foster a seamless patient experience that improves timely access to cancer care and survivorship.

We are entrusted to care for you, our friends and neighbors. Our cancer care team is committed to walking hand-in-hand with you and your family through this journey by providing compassionate care and hope, right here, close to home.

Charles L. Bane, MD
Chair
Cancer Institute