Lifespan forms partnership with Dana-Farber to enhance cancer care

(Updated 1:33 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Lifespan Health System have signed a letter of intent to enhance the level of cancer treatments for patients seeking care at Lifespan hospitals.
The two health care organizations announced on Thursday the partnership to advance cancer care in the region.
“It’s a great day for Rhode Island … It’s great news for our patients,” Dr. Timothy Babineau, president and CEO of Lifespan, said in a phone interview.

Babineau said the partnership starts immediately.

He said the two organizations have had a lot of informal collaboration over the years, and this partnership formalizes it.
A common reason that Rhode Islanders leave the state for health care is for cancer care, Babineau said. This partnership allows residents to stay in state, as 90 to 95 percent of care will be able to be delivered here, he said. If a patient is suffering from a rare, complicated tumor, Lifespan will help coordinate care for the patient at Dana-Farber, Babineau said.

Dana-Farber is based in Boston and is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. Lifespan has five partner hospitals: Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital and Newport Hospital.
Besides elevating the level of cancer care at Lifespan-affiliated institutions, the partnership also will benefit both organizations’ clinical, teaching and research missions, a news release said.
The partnership will help facilitate access for Lifespan cancer patients to a broader array of clinical trials, and to emerging and novel cancer therapies, according to the organizations.
“In addition to the specific benefits for appropriate patients, making clinical trials more widely available will also help hasten the development of new therapies,” Dr. Edward J. Benz Jr., president of Dana-Farber, said in a statement. “We are excited to begin developing a thoughtful and unique partnership with the superb system of caregivers and researchers at Lifespan.”
Babineau said the two organizations share “a deep interest in developing a top notch, patient-centered, cost effective and seamless cancer care delivery system for the region. I can’t think of a better partner to collaborate with than Dana-Farber.”

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The Dana-Farber/Lifespan partnership will be supported, in part, by a similar electronic health record system (Epic platform) that will enhance cancer care, reduce clinical redundancies and facilitate patients’ participation in their care.

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