UHS, ECU Join Together To Battle Cancer

June 14, 2011 - PRLog -- GREENVILLE, NC – The N.C. Division of Public Health recently reported that cancer is now the leading cause of death in North Carolina. In 2009, cancer claimed the lives of 17,476 people. The most deadly cancers were lung and throat cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer, comprising 46 percent (8,076) of the total cancer deaths.

Joining forces to battle cancer in eastern North Carolina, University Health Systems and East Carolina University have launched a collaboration to provide coordinated outpatient cancer services through the Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center.  

Services that UHS and ECU are jointly providing include: oncology clinics (lung/thoracic, breast, gynecologic, medical, radiation and surgical), staffed by ECU Physicians, and radiation therapy.

“This collaboration truly represents a new day in cancer care for the patients and families we have the privilege to serve,” said Steve Lawler, president, UHS Pitt County Memorial Hospital. “It aligns the strengths of PCMH and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in cancer care and enables each to work to their fullest potential to  create a system of care for our patients and families who are dealing with the challenges of this disease."

The cancer center oncology clinics are the starting point for cancer treatment, and all services that a patient might need will be carefully coordinated on behalf of the patient and family.

The cancer center is governed by a board of managers that has equal representation from both UHS and ECU. Dr. Peter Kragel, professor and interim chair of the department of oncology at the Brody School of Medicine, is the director.  

“This joint effort will enable us to increase access to top-rate cancer care in a multidisciplinary setting. Our providers are passionate about our patients. This passion and focus on the patient and family will continue and flourish under our new structure,” Kragel said. “We have already engaged patients in our planning sessions and will continue to engage patients and providers as we further develop our plans for a new facility and personalized cancer care."

Other cancer services that a patient may need are provided by UHS Pitt County Memorial Hospital. These include chemotherapy, radiosurgery (CyberKnife and Gamma Knife), and inpatient care.

Chemotherapy services have been relocated to an expanded Outpatient Infusion Center on the first floor of PCMH. Typically, patients go first to their cancer doctor’s office in the Leo Jenkins center and then to the chemo center. As an added convenience, the cancer team will coordinate moving patients for treatments so they won’t have to be concerned about logistics.  

The expanded PCMH Outpatient Infusion Center can now accommodate 44 patients at a time. It is furnished with comfortable chairs for patients. There may be up to two visitors at one time, and children are welcome to visit as long as they are free from infectious illnesses. Private rooms are available for pediatric patients and for adults needing special accommodations.

Outpatient infusion center operating hours also have been extended:

7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Monday-Friday
7 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday

For more information about the Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center, please visit http://www.leowjenkinscancercenter.com.

# # #

University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina Inc., a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in seven eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. UHS includes Albemarle Health, Bertie Memorial Hospital, Chowan Hospital, Duplin General Hospital, Heritage Hospital, Outer Banks Hospital, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, University Home Health and Hospice; ViQuest and physician practices, and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

East Carolina University
Created by the North Carolina General Assembly more than a century ago as a teacher-training school, East Carolina University today is the state's largest producer of education professionals, nurses and allied health professionals.