NEW ORLEANS – Becker’s Hospital Review has recognized Ochsner Medical Center among its 2017 list of 100 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs. Ochsner Medical Center was one of only two hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi to be recognized on this list, with the Cancer Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General Medical Center being the other, reps said.
In 2015, Ochsner Health System and Lafayette General Health formed a strategic partnership to increase local access to care, improve quality and reduce the cost of healthcare for patients across southwest Louisiana.
The hospitals and health systems selected for this list lead the way in oncology expertise, outcomes, research and treatment options, reps said. Hospitals were selected based on rankings, ratings, designations and outstanding achievement awards for the specialty from a range of firms and clinical bodies, including U.S. News & World Report, CareChex, BlueCross BlueShield Association, National Cancer Institute and American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
Ochsner Medical Center began providing cancer care in 1981 and opened the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center in 2010. Since then the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center has cared for patients from 39 states and 12 countries, and has five-year survival rates for prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer that are consistently over the national average.
In 2015, the Cancer Center announced a major expansion that will double the size of the facility, making it one of the leading comprehensive destinations for cancer care across a multi-state region, reps said. Anticipated construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this year. Ochsner Medical Center is a member of the Louisiana Cancer Consortium, secured the highest CareChex Quality Rating for cancer care in 2017 and is recognized as a High Performing hospital for Cancer by U.S. News & World Report.
The oncology program at Ochsner Medical Center is part of the Ochsner Cancer Institute (OCI). OCI offers comprehensive cancer services and provides multidisciplinary care for adult and pediatric cancer patients. These patients benefit from a collaborative approach to cancer care by a highly skilled team of physicians, oncology nurses, social workers, researchers and other healthcare professionals. Dedicated to cancer research and new cancer treatment development, OCI has access to a robust clinical research program including the Precision Cancer Therapies Program, providing access to innovative therapies, cutting-edge drugs, anti-cancer agents and early-phase clinical trials previously unavailable in Louisiana, reps said. Recently, OCI opened the Ochsner Baton Rouge Cancer Center, increasing capacity to offer convenient access to fully-integrated cancer care to the people of East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding areas.
Patients of Ochsner Health System have the benefit of the industry-leading Epic, which provides an environment to safely and securely share patient information no matter where the patient receives care. In addition, through the Epic Care Everywhere Network, Ochsner [providers] can see patient records from hundreds of hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation and four countries, allowing Ochsner to connect and coordinate with other cancer facilities as an extension of treatment if needed. This ensures a higher level of coordinated care, improves outcomes and is a great benefit for patients especially in challenging times like this, reps said.
Ochsner patients can make appointments and access test results and healthcare resources through the patient portal, MyOchsner. The implementation and continuous optimization of Epic and MyOchsner demonstrate Ochsner’s commitment to consistently leading the industry in innovations that improve quality, access and convenience for patients, reps said.
