‘Cancer Care Partners’ to open at Edison Lakes

Posted on : 17-05-2010 | By : Joshua Parker | In : Credit Cards Articles

Tags: Care, Care Partners

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MISHAWAKA — Two of the area’s biggest healthcare providers are joining forces in the fight against cancer.

The South Bend Clinic and Goshen Health System announced Thursday it is forming a partnership to provide what it calls “fully-integrated” cancer care in St. Joseph County — a model of care Goshen already uses at its Center for Cancer Care in Elkhart County.

“We are coming together against a common enemy, and that enemy is cancer,” said Joseph Gagliardi, senior vice president of Goshen Center for Cancer Care and CEO of the new venture to be called Cancer Care Partners. “We will use the combined expertise of our physicians and staff.”

The partnership, in the works for more than a year, began when the South Bend Clinic approached Goshen Center for Cancer Care.

“We want better than what is available for our patients locally,” said Paul Meyer, executive director of The South Bend Clinic. “This area has not had cancer treatment that seamlessly integrates medical, radiation, and surgical oncology as well as complementary services.”

The new center is in the process of moving into an existing medical building at 301 East Day Road. Once renovations are finished, the facility is expected to open in August.

Dr. Daniel Bruetman, director of medical oncology at Goshen’s Center for Cancer Care, said the model combats what many patients have traditionally had to do while searching for cancer care — seek out specialists in different practices in different locations.

“If those doctors are in different facilities, they might not be talking to each other or not even knowing when the patient’s being seen by whom or formulating a plan that they all agree they’re going to implement,” said Bruetman. “Here, the patient sees all the providers, and then the providers meet and discuss what’s best for the patient.”

Cancer Care Partners will also work with the IU School of Medicine, Notre Dame, and other programs in the expansion of cancer research.