Download BACKGROUND - Midwest Cancer Alliance

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MCA web copy for CLINICAL RESEARCH PARTNERS
[Mandatories: LOGO; Midwest Cancer Alliance]
[TAGLINE:] More options, close to home.
Our Membership with the Midwest Cancer Alliance
We know that cancer patients benefit from teamwork. That’s why we’ve joined the Midwest
Cancer Alliance (MCA), an organization that brings together patient care, research and support
professionals throughout Kansas and western Missouri. Our ultimate goal is to provide our
cancer patients with more options, closer to home.
Too often, cancer patients have had to travel far from their homes to gain access to leading-edge
clinical trials. Through our MCA partnership, we’re working to bring the best cancer clinical
trials the region has to offer into our community and directly to our patients.
As an MCA member, we collaborate with a network of area cancer professionals to explore the
best resources in cancer research. The MCA improves access to leading-edge clinical trials and
provides its members with continuing professional education, patient education, networking and
outreach opportunities.
What is the MCA?
The MCA is a membership-based organization created by The University of Kansas Cancer
Center that links member hospitals, physician groups, cancer support and advocacy
organizations, industry and government throughout Kansas and western Missouri. Its purpose is
to provide strong support to community oncologists and cancer care professionals. Its goal is to
advance the quality and reach of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship
in the Heartland.
Cancer continues to take a significant toll on the lives of patients, as well as their families and
friends. The MCA builds on the strengths of cancer professionals in the region to find the best
resources. As part of this organization, we are teaming with other cancer care leaders to ensure
patients receive the best options to heal.
Membership Benefits
Advanced care for our patients
Cancer treatment is disruptive enough in our patients’ lives. The MCA’s core goal is to facilitate
advanced clinical trials for cancer patients as close to their homes as possible, helping to remove
one of the burdens of receiving cancer care.
Through our MCA membership, we’re able to give patients access to some of the latest
resources, such as clinical trials. Oncologists affiliated with MCA can efficiently share
information to help diagnose and treat patients, which adds our knowledge of cancer and
advances our highest standards of care.
Patients at MCA-affiliated hospitals and physician practices have access to comprehensive
cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and care information, along with other health resources.
We can provide our patients with second opinion services through The University of Kansas
Cancer Center, and multidisciplinary care for every diagnosis. As a member, we have the
opportunity to enroll patients in MCA-sponsored prevention, screening and early detection trials
at our hospital. Patients for whom standard therapies have failed can receive access to state-ofthe-art clinical trials, thanks to this collaboration. We also have the opportunity to participate in
The University of Kansas Cancer Center Disease Working Groups, a well as translational
research protocols.
Collaboration among Cancer Professionals
MCA members share information and best practices for the benefit of patients in the region. Our
cancer care professionals have access to member networking events and conferences, continuing
medical and nursing credits and members-only web resources.
Our membership also allows us to share valuable resources with a host of other regional cancer
care leaders and to be part of a team dedicated to finding answers.
Advantages to our community
The benefits of our membership extend well beyond our patient population, offering numerous
advantages to our entire community. Advances in cancer care and therapies close to home help
us to attract and retain top physicians, nurses and staff in rural areas. These advances create and
maintain jobs, and they spur related economic development.
About MCA
The MCA was built to serve its members and to enhance their ability to deliver advanced cancer
care to patients in the Heartland region.
To learn more, visit www.midwestcanceralliance.org.