(CORVALLIS, Ore. – Feb. 18, 2015) – Samaritan Health Services today announced a formal collaboration with Stanford Health Care and its Stanford Cancer Center, designed to enhance cancer care, education and clinical research in the region.
Stanford Cancer Center representatives joined Samaritan President/CEO Larry Mullins in Corvallis to make the announcement in front of local medical providers and hospital supporters.
Using telemedicine technology available in Samaritan’s expanded Pastega Regional Cancer Center beginning later this year, the collaboration will allow local oncologists and other clinicians to connect with their Stanford Medicine counterparts on a real-time basis to present complex or rare cancer cases and discuss treatment options and plans. That same technology will allow local physicians to participate in Stanford’s cancer-related educational programs.
“We are excited about the new partnership with Stanford,” Mullins said. “Along with providing valuable resources to our patients and providers, the collaboration presents a number of opportunities for our organization to enhance cancer care for patients in our service area.”
Medical oncologist Douglas Blayney, M.D., Professor of Medicine and the Ann and John Doerr Medical Director of the Stanford Cancer Center, said that Stanford’s partnership with Samaritan “will involve a series of innovative cancer projects that touch all three areas of our mission: to care, to educate and to discover.”
David Hufnagel, D.O., medical director for Samaritan’s oncology and hematology program, also expressed enthusiastic support for the agreement.
“Coupled with the enhanced facilities found in the new Pastega Regional Cancer Center, this collaboration will take cancer care in the region to an unprecedented level,” he said.
Construction is currently underway at the expanded Cancer Center, located on the campus of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Named for long-time hospital benefactor Mario Pastega and his family, the center will bring together Samaritan’s cancer services, which
are currently spread across the medical center’s campus, and allow for program expansion, including collaboration with Stanford Medicine. The center is expected to be completed in November.
The $15-million-dollar fundraising campaign to support Samaritan’s state-of-the-art cancer center and program expansion is the largest in the organization’s history. Led by the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, it includes $12.2 million to build the new center, including construction and expansion of the existing Mario Pastega House, $1.8 million to build a program endowment and support services, and an additional $1 million to develop a regional patient navigation program and resource center. Nearly $9 million has been raised to date.
Mullins said that Samaritan’s vision is to be part of the regional health care system people choose for their needs, and collaboration with Stanford Medicine to expand cancer care will help do just that.
“We’re excited to be able to provide this to our patients and their families,” said Mullins. “Our goal is to provide additional counsel and care collaboration need right here, close to home.”
###
About Stanford Health Care
Stanford Health Care (SHC) seeks to heal humanity through science and compassion one patient at a time, through its commitment to care, educate, and discover. Stanford Health Care delivers clinical innovation across its inpatient services, specialty health centers, physician offices, virtual care offerings and health plan programs.
Stanford Health Care is a leading academic health system and part of Stanford Medicine, which includes the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Stanford is renowned for breakthroughs in treating cancer, heart disease, brain disorders and surgical and medical conditions. For more information, visit stanfordhealthcare.org.
About Samaritan Health Services
Samaritan Health Services (SHS) is a regional health system comprising hospitals, physician clinics, graduate medical education, health plans, health fitness and sports medicine facilities and related programs in Oregon’s Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties.
Samaritan’s Cancer Program encompasses the physician practice of Samaritan Hematology and Oncology Consultants, which provides medical oncology services, and the adjacent facilities comprising the Samaritan Pastega Regional Cancer Center, where patients undergo radiation treatments, chemotherapy and receive related support services. Samaritan’s Cancer Program also partners with each local Samaritan-affiliated hospital community to provide chemotherapy and other supportive treatments for patients, close to home. For more information, visit samhealth.org/Cancer.
