Dr. Joseph Flynn, Dr. Mark Collins, Greg Nielsen, and Mary Courtney Ore.
Officials at CMH Regional Health System announced today that they have teamed up with one of the nation’s leading cancer care providers – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) through their James Cancer Network – to provide clinical and quality oversight of medical oncology and radiation oncology services in Wilmington. The James Cancer Network is expected to begin providing services in Wilmington on July 1, 2015.

According to CMH Regional Health System CEO Greg Nielsen, “We are very excited to be aligning with The James Cancer Network and their outstanding cancer experts. We have an outstanding group of compassionate healthcare professionals currently serving our community and now, with the addition of The James Cancer Network physicians, we have the ability to best meet the needs of cancer patients and their families. The new name for cancer care services on our campus will be ‘The Foster J. Boyd, MD Regional Cancer Center – a member of The James Cancer Network.’ We are forever thankful to Drs. Foster and Mary Boyd for their generosity and forethought which provided for our outstanding facility.”

Mr. Nielsen added, “An important part of this change is that we will now offer medical oncology and radiation oncology services five days a week right here in Wilmington. We will also now have the same medical oncology and radiation oncology physicians at the center daily to help provide greater continuity of care and better coordination of care and communication.”

As a member of The James Cancer Network, there will be numerous enhancements to the cancer care services at the hospital including:

Academic collaboration—as a James Cancer Network member,  CMH Regional Health System will be eligible to participate in Total Cancer Care, the OSUCCC — James’ clinical trial matching service.

Identification of opportunities to expand care delivered to hematology/oncology patients by enhancing and growing services offered in the Wilmington community to keep patients close to home for their cancer care

Implementation of a full service medical oncology clinic utilizing the OSUCCC –James’ existing treatment plans, and NCCN-derived guidelines for the delivery of chemotherapy. Access to OSUCCC – James’ Tumor Board activities for Hospital physicians and staff assigned to the oncology program

“This is a great day for CMH Regional Health System, for the families of Wilmington and the surrounding areas, and most certainly for The Ohio State University,” said Dr. Michael A. Caligiuri, Director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. “It’s important because it enables both Clinton Memorial and Ohio State to achieve our shared vision – developing and delivering the most effective ways to prevent, detect, treat and cure cancers – and doing that close to home so that where you live doesn’t dictate what care you can receive.”

Under the terms of this new agreement, medical oncology and radiation oncology services at CMH Regional Health System are provided by cancer experts from the OSUCCC – James and are also under OSUCCC-James clinical direction and leadership.

According to Rajiv Patel, MD CMH Chief of Staff, “I am so excited about this innovative affiliation. All across the country, healthcare organizations are exploring all sorts of unique partnerships and alliances in order to meet patient needs.

“As a physician it is extremely gratifying to see the boards and leadership of these two organizations align services and clinical expertise in order to meet the needs of our patients and their families and allow the people of Southwest Ohio to get the care they need close to home.”