Lehigh Valley Health Network Joins the Moffitt Oncology Network

May 22, 2013

TAMPA, Fla., and LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Health Network is partnering with Moffitt Cancer Centerto enhance cancer care by joining the newly launched Moffitt Oncology Network. Lehigh Valley, based in Allentown, Pa., is the first member of the network outside of Florida. As a member of the Moffitt Oncology Network, Lehigh Valley will have access to Moffitt’s experts and best practices, which include multidisciplinary cancer care, peer review, clinical pathways and quality assurance standards.

The Moffitt Oncology Network extends Moffitt’s knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers with the goal of offering the best personalized cancer care. Lehigh Valley’s physicians will collaborate with Moffitt physicians on patient care and novel clinical research.

Key elements of the relationship include:

Joint clinical research-driven cancer care
Utilization of Moffitt Clinical Pathways
Quality management strategies including physician education and audits
Development of strategic Centers of Excellence

“Since our initial affiliation was announced two years ago, we have had a very fruitful collaboration with the faculty and researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the national leaders in cancer gene discovery,” said Suresh Nair, M.D., senior medical director, Lehigh Valley’s academic oncology programs. “The Moffitt Oncology Network will continue to open many new possibilities for our patients with the close ongoing link to one of the top five cancer centers in the country.

In 2011, Lehigh Valley announced a partnership with Moffitt to bring the most advanced cancer care to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities. Collaborations include an ovarian cancer trial to test choices of chemotherapy treatment based on the tumor DNA, and a smoking cessation pilot project targeted at pregnant women. More than 50 patients from Lehigh Valley have been involved in the two projects. Research with the Moffitt Oncology Network is expected to include additional tumor DNA study of various advanced-stage cancers and testing of a new drug for advanced stages of melanoma.

“It was natural for Moffitt to work with Lehigh Valley because our vision is aligned,” said Alan F. List, M.D., president and CEO of Moffitt. “Our goal at Moffitt is to utilize pathways and evidence-based medicine to bring high-quality, cost-effective cancer care and top-notch research closer to patients, so we can all be closer to a cure.”

As the importance of quality grows in health care reform, this partnership will position both organizations to better provide the best care in a changing environment. Through use of Moffitt’s evidence based clinical pathways and the novel quality measurement and feedback projects, Lehigh Valley and Moffitt will be well positioned for the future.

About Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; nine health centers caring for communities in four counties; primary and specialty care physician practices; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, the only children’s hospital in the region, provides care in 28 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 17 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cancer Center is one of only 21 sites nationwide that partners with the national Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHN_MediaTeam.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Since 1999, Moffitt has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. With more than 4,200 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on the state of nearly $2 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.

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