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Plus News from the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute B News from the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute MEMBER MARCH 2014 | ISSUE 2 In this issue n MSK Alliance is a ‘two-way street’ n HHC Cancer Institute sites and descriptions n Why disease management teams matter Setting a new standard + MARCH 2014 Donna Handley 8 Vice President of Operations, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute The field of cancer treatment and research can understandably be tinged with the fear and doubt that come with a cancer diagnosis. But for those of us who have dedicated ourselves to bringing new levels of care to cancer patients, this can also be a field that offers inspiration and hope like none other. The work that we are doing at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute — and the work that we will be doing throughout the coming year — should give anyone reason to feel hopeful about the prospects for cancer care in Connecticut. The pioneering innovations we are making in the delivery of world-class cancer care will undoubtedly make an enormous, life-changing difference for greater numbers of people throughout our communities. In particular, our organization is energized and invigorated by our status as the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, and the promise that partnership holds for bringing state-of-the-art cancer therapies and research to our patients here in Connecticut. Through our partnership with MSK, the outstanding teams of oncologists, primary care physicians and clinical support staff who work across the Hartford HealthCare system will now be able to elevate the quality of care they deliver to an even higher level. That’s what our Institute is all about: setting a new, single standard of cancer care for the people in our communities. We are taking the best that each of our member hospitals and cancer centers has to offer and, through our work with MSK, giving our patients the most advanced, most customized and most promising therapies to be found anywhere. We are engaged right now in groundbreaking, standard-setting work within our Institute. From cutting edge research in new frontiers like genomics to investments in the latest technologies and electronic infrastructures, our Institute is opening new doors and possibilities for everyone who takes part in our mission of care. And that, in turn, creates hope — for us and our patients. More than a slogan New relationship with Memorial Sloan Kettering touted in print, online and on TV ‘T ogether. Ahead of cancer.” That’s the theme driving the news that the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. I t’s the tagline for the partnership’s new website, togetherahead.org; and it’s the message behind every print or electronic ad that people in our communities are starting to see on their TVs and in newspapers. In the months to come, the message will be spread on billboards, through more social media and in community talks. For Hartford HealthCare employees and providers, though, it is not just an advertising slogan. It’s a message of innovation and hope — a chance to learn and help others understand how, as part of MSK’s Cancer Alliance, our Cancer Institute will improve the quality of cancer care and the lives of cancer patients. The effort to spread the word about the collaboration began on the last day of January, when a gathering of HHC cancer care leaders reviewed the messages at Heublein Hall at Hartford Hospital in the Education Resource Center. The communications kickoff featured a preview of two TV commercials that See NEWS, page 3 PLUS ‘MSK Cancer Alliance is a two-way street’ To learn more about the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, MSK spoke to Richard Barakat, MD, deputy physician-in-chief for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. with Richard Barakat, MD saying that the educational component of the MSK Cancer Alliance is a two-way street. Alliance members may, for example, be able to participate in our disease management teams or make on-site observations. There may also be opportunities to collaborate on joint research projects to measure outcomes related to survival rates, quality of life, or the overall cost of care. On our end, the Alliance is helping us learn firsthand how to deliver care and offer clinical trails in the community setting. It will also help us to broaden the impact of our program of clinical trials by opening them up to a much larger patient population. I should also add that none of this requires the building of any new facilities, and that makes this approach a cost-effective model for community providers seeking to optimize their cancer care. Q. Why did Memorial Sloan Kettering choose Hartford HealthCare as its first alliance member? A. We selected Hartford HealthCare as our charter member first and foremost because HHC shares our commitment to excellence in patient care, and has an established reputation in the community it serves. HHC’s cancer program is one of the highest-quality programs in the region and is responsible for the care of approximately 18 percent of all cancer patients in Connecticut. The fact that Hartford Q. What is happening with the Hartford alliance right now? A. Right now, we are helping the HHC Cancer Institute enhance its programs of cancer care and clinical research, including through access to Memorial Sloan Kettering clinical trials on site. As the collaboration moves forward, certain HHC cancer doctors will participate in observerships and be integrated into our disease management teams. We will also jointly recruit a chief medical officer for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute who will be on staff at both HHC and Memorial Sloan Kettering. It’s important to note that HHC patients will remain patients of the HHC Cancer Institute and will continue to receive their care locally. The HHC advertising campaign is really a measure of HHC’s enthusiasm for our collaboration and the significant improvements it will bring to regional cancer care when the program launches later this spring. Q. What is the plan for the MSK Cancer Alliance going forward? A. Our immediate focus is on ensuring that the alliance with Hartford begins successfully. Ultimately, our goal for the future is to create a network of providers that extends beyond the New York metropolitan area so that we can reach patients in more communities. Richard Barakat, MD, is the deputy physician-in-chief for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. This interview appeared on the Memorial Sloan Kettering blog and is used with MSK’s permission. You can read this on MSK’s website at www.mskcc.org/blog/new-adcampaign-features-msk-alliance How to reach us On the cover n By phone: Call the Cancer Connect line at 855-255-6181. n Online: Visit www.togetherahead.org n On Facebook: Like the Hartford HealthCare Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HartfordHealthCare. n Leading the communications kickoff for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute are, from left, Andrew Salner, MD, director of the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center; Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute; and Jeffrey Flaks, HHC’s chief operating officer. OF ALL THE HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD TO PARTNER WITH, MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CHOSE US. WHO WILL YOU CHOOSE? Hartford HealthCare is proud to be the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. One of the world’s most renowned cancer centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering, is now working together with Hartford HealthCare, the most comprehensive health system in Connecticut. This remarkable, one-of-a-kind alliance will enable a single standard of care, as well as unprecedented access to clinical trials, innovative treatments and breakthrough research that will keep our specialists, researchers and patients ahead of cancer. To learn more, visit TogetherAhead.org, or call our Cancer Connect line at 855.255.6181. MEMBER T O G E T H E R . A H E A D O F C A N C E R . + + Q. What are some other distinctive features of the MSK Cancer Alliance? A. One feature I’d like to emphasize is the tremendous opportunity for what we call bidirectional learning — which is really just another way of Q&A Hospital is one of only 30 hospitals nationwide designated as an NCI Community Cancer Center was also a compelling factor. MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 Q. What is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance and why did MSK decide to create it? A. The concept of the MSK Cancer Alliance was borne out of our strong desire to advance the quality of cancer care for people who receive treatment in their local communities. It can take years for the cutting-edge work we do at Memorial Sloan Kettering to reach the community setting. Our hope is to speed up this process so that regional providers are delivering the best care and achieving the best outcomes possible for their patients — and doing it sooner rather than later. Also, because we know that the vast majority of cancer care in the United States is delivered in a community setting, we are interested in becoming more closely involved with how cancer care is practiced outside of a specialty center like ours. What membership in the Alliance actually entails will vary according to the specific needs of our members. Generally speaking, an alliance with Memorial Sloan Kettering empowers members to adopt the latest standards in cancer care. It could also involve clinical trials, which allow patients to receive the newest, most cutting-edge therapies available. In fact, the HHC Cancer Institute will include our first clinical trials site established through the MSK Cancer Alliance. 2 PLUS News from Memorial Sloan Kettering 7 PLUS A preview of the Cancer Institute television ads was a highlight of the kickoff event. The ads first aired to Connecticut viewers during the Super Bowl. MSK administrators and gynecological DMT leaders traveled to HHC to discuss the MSK standards for GYN oncology in an ongoing effort to bring a single standard of care to Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute patients. Shown here, from left: Karen Cudworth (HHC), Dr. Aaron Shafer (HHC), Dr. Amy Brown (HHC), Rachel Klipper (MSK), Dr. Noah Kauff (MSK), Victor Ribaudo (MSK), Karen Weingrod (HHC), Abbi Bruce (HHC), Dr. Nadeem Abu-Rustum (MSK), Donna Handley (HHC), Dr. Richard Barakat (MSK), Sara Carroll (HHC), Susanne Brown (HHC), Kristoffer Popovitch (HHC), Kiran Avancha (HHC), Stacey Barber (HHC), Dr. Stacey Nerenstone (HHC), Wendy Perchick (MSK), Dr. Heather Einstein (HHC); Pat Montanaro (HHC), Dr. Joel Sorosky (HHC), and Christian Acuna (HHC). Disease management teams offer a foundation for the delivery of care + From left: Catherine Stevens, RN, VP, patient care services for the Central Region; James O’Dea, PhD, regional cancer director, East Region; Kristoffer Popvitch, regional cancer director, Central Region; and Donna Handley, vice president, operations, HHC Cancer Institute. NEWS from page 1 first aired, on a limited regional basis, during the Feb. 2 Super Bowl. Print and TV advertising continues. At the kickoff, Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute, thanked everyone at HHC and MSK who worked to make the partnership a reality. She said the work that is being done between the organizations will serve to benefit untold numbers of patients throughout the region by providing them with the very latest in cancer care — including breakthroughs in research and treatment, and access to clinical trials. “We will lead the way in bringing Memorial Sloan Kettering standards of care and clinical trials into community settings,” Handley said. Jeffrey A. Flaks, HHC executive vice president and chief operating officer, Click here to find out more n Learn more about this unprecedented initiative and the HHC Cancer Institute on the Internet and social media. Visit www.togetherahead.org. Use the Twitter hashtag #TogetherAhead or “like” our posts on Facebook. told the enthusiastic crowd that cancer services provided by HHC and its five acute care hospitals are being unified into a single center of excellence where patients can expect the highest level of care across the system. “We will have one cancer center — one great cancer center — that operates on five campuses,” he said, explaining the value of a having a single standard of care. HHC cancer leaders explained that MSK selected the HHC Cancer Institute as the charter member of the new Alliance because of HHC’s reputation for clinical excellence and its range of services for cancer patients. “The HHC advertising campaign is really a measure of HHC’s enthusiasm for our collaboration and the significant improvements it will bring to regional cancer care when the program launches later this spring,” said Richard Barakat, MD, deputy physician-in-chief for MSK’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. + 6 Members of the DMTs include providers and caregivers at every level who work to give patients the best treatment possible. That includes oncologists and other cancer specialists, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social workers and researchers. There is also an opportunity for primary care physicians to participate in the DMTs and provide valuable input and decision making, at diagnosis, during treatment and as the patient returns to primary care at the end of treatment. The scope of work for the HHC Cancer Institute disease management teams includes: n Serving as the core clinical and programmatic leadership team charged with extending the Institute model to specific disease sites, facilitating collaboration among clinical specialties n Developing and implementing clinical pathways, guidelines and evidence-based best practices n Monitoring quality and outcomes n Embedding clinical research as an integral component of care for each cancer site n Coordinating care including patient navigation, survivorship, triage and referrals for support services n Supporting community outreach and screening to promote early detection to achieve better outcomes while reducing disparities The DMT model is also the foundation for the Institute’s partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering. As the two organizations prepare to operationalize the partnership over the next several months, DMTs comprised of cancer experts from both organizations are being formed. The joint DMTs will be focused on specialties across the spectrum of cancer care, and will enable both organizations to take advantage of the particular strengths they each have to offer. Hartford HealthCare’s selection as the charter member of the MSK Cancer Alliance made big headlines, including in the Hartford Courant and The Wall Street Journal. MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 C utting edge research. Highly trained physicians. State-ofthe-art technology. These are all critically important components in a world-class cancer care program. But they won’t do much for patients without an efficient and coordinated method for making sure patients have access to them when they need them most. At the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, patients are assured of receiving the highest quality care through disease management teams (DMTs) — multidisciplinary teams of cancer specialists, providers and caregivers who work together to ensure a single, consistent standard of care. This patientcentered, coordinated approach to cancer care is based on best practices in the field and is widely used at leading cancer treatment and research centers nationwide, including Memorial Sloan Kettering. “Disease management teams are at the core of everything we do,” said Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute. “They allow us to achieve excellence across the spectrum by incorporating evidence-based treatment guidelines, practices and procedures with access to cutting-edge clinical research and targeted therapies.” Across the HHC system, DMTs have been established for five types of cancer diagnosis: breast, lung, genitourinary, GI and GYN/oncology. In addition, at Hartford Hospital, hospital-specific DMTs for nine cancer disease sites have been operating for four years: breast, thoracic, GU, GI and hepato oncology, GYN/ oncology, head and neck, neuro-oncology, hematology and melanoma/skin/soft tissue. The DMT model is designed to create cost-effective pathways that eliminate duplication and unnecessary tests and treatment. PLUS Barbara Gaughan, RN, nurse navigator at Hartford Hospital, gets into the spirit of the communications kickoff for the HHC Cancer Institute, held Jan. 31. Small footballs, like the ones below, were part of the pre-Super Bowl theme. 3 PLUS Who we are B The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is focused on providing a single highquality, comprehensive cancer diagnostic, treatment and support program across all HHC community cancer center locations. Hundreds of cancer physicians and staff members meet regularly to adopt, adapt and implement a single set of standards that are used across the entire system to treat cancer patients. Currently, five system Disease Management Teams (for lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecology and breast) meet monthly to discuss these standards. A system-wide cancer research program helps ensure that clinical trials are available to patients at each of our sites. An entire matrix of meetings on topics such as outreach, navigation, patient-support programs and survivorship ensure that we use evidence-based practice guidelines in all these areas of patient treatment and patient and family support. Each of our community cancer centers and the patients they serve benefit from implementing the highest-quality standards of care and our system-wide collaboration. The HHC Cancer Institute’s five cancer centers include: MidState Medical Center Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center 435 Lewis Ave., Meriden 203-694-8353 Medical Director: Gary F. Tansino, MD Regional Director (Central Region): Kristoffer Popovitch, RT-R, MBA Web: midstatemedical.org/cancer + Medical Director: Peter D. Byeff, MD Regional Director (Central Region): Kristoffer Popovitch, RT-R, MBA Web: thocc.org/services/cancer Since 1992, the George Bray Cancer Center at The Hospital of Central Connecticut has been providing a wide range of cancer services to the people of New Britain and surrounding communities. The center features a dedicated staff of multidisciplinary specialists who provide comprehensive cancer care within the George Bray Cancer Center and the American Savings Foundation Radiation Oncology Treatment Center, located on the HOCC New Britain General campus. Highlights: n New full-service, comprehensive HOCC Cancer Center now under construction; to be open in 2015 n Accredited as a Teaching Hospital Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Cancer n Ongoing clinical research trials n Multisite nurse navigators n Dedicated breast surgeon n Accreditation through National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers n National Quality Measures for Breast Centers certification n Inpatient unit with dedicated oncology-certified nurses n State-of-the-art, ACR-accredited radiation therapy program, including Novalis radiosurgery n HDR radiation therapy n Dedicated surgical oncologists n Comprehensive survivorship and support-services program Backus Hospital’s Cancer Center celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2013. The Cancer Services Department, MEMBER with a staff of multidisciplinary medical/ surgical professionals, including oncologycertified nurses, offers a wide range of comprehensive programs and services. Highlights: n Designated a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) n Designated as a Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers – the only hospital in its region with this honor. n Commendation status for its clinical research program and clinical trials by the ACS Commission on Cancer n Cancer Survivorship Program n Breast Health Patient Navigator Program n Radiation therapy n Inpatient oncology n Outpatient ambulatory medical care n Onsite cancer boutique Hartford Hospital Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center 80 Seymour St., Hartford 860-545-3790 Medical Director: Jeff Baker, MD Regional Director (East Region): James F. O’Dea, PhD, MBA Web: windhamhospital.org Windham Hospital’s Medical Oncology/ Hematology Services Program is offered in collaboration with Oncology Associates, PC, of the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital. Highlights: n Comprehensive patient navigation system n Breast screenings and diagnosis n Participant in the Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Control Program, which offers free colorectal screenings for people over 50 who qualify n Breast and cervical screening through the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program n Oncology dietician n Support groups n Integrative therapies Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center – Avon 80 Fisher Drive, Avon 860-696-1000 Medical Director: Andrew L. Salner, MD Regional Director (Hartford Region): Abbi Bruce, RN, MS, AOCN Web: harthosp.org/cancer The Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital is one of the largest cancer-treatment centers in the Northeast, with 3,100 newly diagnosed patients and more than 50,000 patient visits each year. The center features a full line of comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services, with centers of excellence in a wide range of cancer types, including breast, GI, urologic, gynecologic, head and neck, hematologic, skin and melanoma, neuro/oncology and thoracic/lung. Highlights: n One of 21 hospitals nationwide to be named a Community Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute n Collaborator and $3-million research grant recipient in the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Total Cancer Care Research project n Ongoing clinical research trials conducted by oncology specialists and physicians n Largest breast cancer specialist group in Connecticut, accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers n Comprehensive Cancer Connect patient navigation system n Radiation and surgical oncology n Rehabilitation services n Comprehensive survivorship program n Comprehensive outreach program to help reduce cancer disparities n Onsite cancer boutique in Hartford To learn more n To learn more about cancer care near you, call HHC’s Cancer Connect line any time: 855-255-6181. + 4 Highlights: n Accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a National Breast Center of Excellence n State-of-the-art radiation therapy program n HDR radiation therapy n Risk-assessment program n Team approach to multidisciplinary care, including multidisciplinary cancer conferences n Dedicated oncology-certified nurses n Outpatient infusion n Screening programs n Integrative therapies n Onsite cancer boutique n Comprehensive survivorship program n Full range of diagnostic testing services George Bray Cancer Center 100 Grand St., New Britain 860-224-5299 Medical Director: Dinesh Kapur, MD Regional Director (East Region): James F. O’Dea, PhD, MBA Web: backushospital.org/cancer 112 Mansfield Ave., Willimantic 860-456-6896 MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 The Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center offers a complete range of diagnostic, treatment, education and support services in an easyaccess, state-ofthe-art facility. The center also serves as a vital resource in prevention, early detection, outreach and support. Services include comprehensive programs in breast care, lung, prostate, surgery, medical and radiation oncology, and outpatient services. The Hospital of Central Connecticut — New Britain General Campus 326 Washington St., Norwich 860-889-8331 ext. 2248 Windham Hospital PLUS The HHC Cancer Institute The William W. Backus Hospital 5 PLUS Who we are B The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is focused on providing a single highquality, comprehensive cancer diagnostic, treatment and support program across all HHC community cancer center locations. Hundreds of cancer physicians and staff members meet regularly to adopt, adapt and implement a single set of standards that are used across the entire system to treat cancer patients. Currently, five system Disease Management Teams (for lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecology and breast) meet monthly to discuss these standards. A system-wide cancer research program helps ensure that clinical trials are available to patients at each of our sites. An entire matrix of meetings on topics such as outreach, navigation, patient-support programs and survivorship ensure that we use evidence-based practice guidelines in all these areas of patient treatment and patient and family support. Each of our community cancer centers and the patients they serve benefit from implementing the highest-quality standards of care and our system-wide collaboration. The HHC Cancer Institute’s five cancer centers include: MidState Medical Center Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center 435 Lewis Ave., Meriden 203-694-8353 Medical Director: Gary F. Tansino, MD Regional Director (Central Region): Kristoffer Popovitch, RT-R, MBA Web: midstatemedical.org/cancer + Medical Director: Peter D. Byeff, MD Regional Director (Central Region): Kristoffer Popovitch, RT-R, MBA Web: thocc.org/services/cancer Since 1992, the George Bray Cancer Center at The Hospital of Central Connecticut has been providing a wide range of cancer services to the people of New Britain and surrounding communities. The center features a dedicated staff of multidisciplinary specialists who provide comprehensive cancer care within the George Bray Cancer Center and the American Savings Foundation Radiation Oncology Treatment Center, located on the HOCC New Britain General campus. Highlights: n New full-service, comprehensive HOCC Cancer Center now under construction; to be open in 2015 n Accredited as a Teaching Hospital Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Cancer n Ongoing clinical research trials n Multisite nurse navigators n Dedicated breast surgeon n Accreditation through National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers n National Quality Measures for Breast Centers certification n Inpatient unit with dedicated oncology-certified nurses n State-of-the-art, ACR-accredited radiation therapy program, including Novalis radiosurgery n HDR radiation therapy n Dedicated surgical oncologists n Comprehensive survivorship and support-services program Backus Hospital’s Cancer Center celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2013. The Cancer Services Department, MEMBER with a staff of multidisciplinary medical/ surgical professionals, including oncologycertified nurses, offers a wide range of comprehensive programs and services. Highlights: n Designated a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) n Designated as a Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers – the only hospital in its region with this honor. n Commendation status for its clinical research program and clinical trials by the ACS Commission on Cancer n Cancer Survivorship Program n Breast Health Patient Navigator Program n Radiation therapy n Inpatient oncology n Outpatient ambulatory medical care n Onsite cancer boutique Hartford Hospital Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center 80 Seymour St., Hartford 860-545-3790 Medical Director: Jeff Baker, MD Regional Director (East Region): James F. O’Dea, PhD, MBA Web: windhamhospital.org Windham Hospital’s Medical Oncology/ Hematology Services Program is offered in collaboration with Oncology Associates, PC, of the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital. Highlights: n Comprehensive patient navigation system n Breast screenings and diagnosis n Participant in the Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Control Program, which offers free colorectal screenings for people over 50 who qualify n Breast and cervical screening through the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program n Oncology dietician n Support groups n Integrative therapies Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center – Avon 80 Fisher Drive, Avon 860-696-1000 Medical Director: Andrew L. Salner, MD Regional Director (Hartford Region): Abbi Bruce, RN, MS, AOCN Web: harthosp.org/cancer The Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital is one of the largest cancer-treatment centers in the Northeast, with 3,100 newly diagnosed patients and more than 50,000 patient visits each year. The center features a full line of comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services, with centers of excellence in a wide range of cancer types, including breast, GI, urologic, gynecologic, head and neck, hematologic, skin and melanoma, neuro/oncology and thoracic/lung. Highlights: n One of 21 hospitals nationwide to be named a Community Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute n Collaborator and $3-million research grant recipient in the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Total Cancer Care Research project n Ongoing clinical research trials conducted by oncology specialists and physicians n Largest breast cancer specialist group in Connecticut, accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers n Comprehensive Cancer Connect patient navigation system n Radiation and surgical oncology n Rehabilitation services n Comprehensive survivorship program n Comprehensive outreach program to help reduce cancer disparities n Onsite cancer boutique in Hartford To learn more n To learn more about cancer care near you, call HHC’s Cancer Connect line any time: 855-255-6181. + 4 Highlights: n Accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a National Breast Center of Excellence n State-of-the-art radiation therapy program n HDR radiation therapy n Risk-assessment program n Team approach to multidisciplinary care, including multidisciplinary cancer conferences n Dedicated oncology-certified nurses n Outpatient infusion n Screening programs n Integrative therapies n Onsite cancer boutique n Comprehensive survivorship program n Full range of diagnostic testing services George Bray Cancer Center 100 Grand St., New Britain 860-224-5299 Medical Director: Dinesh Kapur, MD Regional Director (East Region): James F. O’Dea, PhD, MBA Web: backushospital.org/cancer 112 Mansfield Ave., Willimantic 860-456-6896 MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 The Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center offers a complete range of diagnostic, treatment, education and support services in an easyaccess, state-ofthe-art facility. The center also serves as a vital resource in prevention, early detection, outreach and support. Services include comprehensive programs in breast care, lung, prostate, surgery, medical and radiation oncology, and outpatient services. The Hospital of Central Connecticut — New Britain General Campus 326 Washington St., Norwich 860-889-8331 ext. 2248 Windham Hospital PLUS The HHC Cancer Institute The William W. Backus Hospital 5 PLUS A preview of the Cancer Institute television ads was a highlight of the kickoff event. The ads first aired to Connecticut viewers during the Super Bowl. MSK administrators and gynecological DMT leaders traveled to HHC to discuss the MSK standards for GYN oncology in an ongoing effort to bring a single standard of care to Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute patients. Shown here, from left: Karen Cudworth (HHC), Dr. Aaron Shafer (HHC), Dr. Amy Brown (HHC), Rachel Klipper (MSK), Dr. Noah Kauff (MSK), Victor Ribaudo (MSK), Karen Weingrod (HHC), Abbi Bruce (HHC), Dr. Nadeem Abu-Rustum (MSK), Donna Handley (HHC), Dr. Richard Barakat (MSK), Sara Carroll (HHC), Susanne Brown (HHC), Kristoffer Popovitch (HHC), Kiran Avancha (HHC), Stacey Barber (HHC), Dr. Stacey Nerenstone (HHC), Wendy Perchick (MSK), Dr. Heather Einstein (HHC); Pat Montanaro (HHC), Dr. Joel Sorosky (HHC), and Christian Acuna (HHC). Disease management teams offer a foundation for the delivery of care + From left: Catherine Stevens, RN, VP, patient care services for the Central Region; James O’Dea, PhD, regional cancer director, East Region; Kristoffer Popvitch, regional cancer director, Central Region; and Donna Handley, vice president, operations, HHC Cancer Institute. NEWS from page 1 first aired, on a limited regional basis, during the Feb. 2 Super Bowl. Print and TV advertising continues. At the kickoff, Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute, thanked everyone at HHC and MSK who worked to make the partnership a reality. She said the work that is being done between the organizations will serve to benefit untold numbers of patients throughout the region by providing them with the very latest in cancer care — including breakthroughs in research and treatment, and access to clinical trials. “We will lead the way in bringing Memorial Sloan Kettering standards of care and clinical trials into community settings,” Handley said. Jeffrey A. Flaks, HHC executive vice president and chief operating officer, Click here to find out more n Learn more about this unprecedented initiative and the HHC Cancer Institute on the Internet and social media. Visit www.togetherahead.org. Use the Twitter hashtag #TogetherAhead or “like” our posts on Facebook. told the enthusiastic crowd that cancer services provided by HHC and its five acute care hospitals are being unified into a single center of excellence where patients can expect the highest level of care across the system. “We will have one cancer center — one great cancer center — that operates on five campuses,” he said, explaining the value of a having a single standard of care. HHC cancer leaders explained that MSK selected the HHC Cancer Institute as the charter member of the new Alliance because of HHC’s reputation for clinical excellence and its range of services for cancer patients. “The HHC advertising campaign is really a measure of HHC’s enthusiasm for our collaboration and the significant improvements it will bring to regional cancer care when the program launches later this spring,” said Richard Barakat, MD, deputy physician-in-chief for MSK’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. + 6 Members of the DMTs include providers and caregivers at every level who work to give patients the best treatment possible. That includes oncologists and other cancer specialists, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social workers and researchers. There is also an opportunity for primary care physicians to participate in the DMTs and provide valuable input and decision making, at diagnosis, during treatment and as the patient returns to primary care at the end of treatment. The scope of work for the HHC Cancer Institute disease management teams includes: n Serving as the core clinical and programmatic leadership team charged with extending the Institute model to specific disease sites, facilitating collaboration among clinical specialties n Developing and implementing clinical pathways, guidelines and evidence-based best practices n Monitoring quality and outcomes n Embedding clinical research as an integral component of care for each cancer site n Coordinating care including patient navigation, survivorship, triage and referrals for support services n Supporting community outreach and screening to promote early detection to achieve better outcomes while reducing disparities The DMT model is also the foundation for the Institute’s partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering. As the two organizations prepare to operationalize the partnership over the next several months, DMTs comprised of cancer experts from both organizations are being formed. The joint DMTs will be focused on specialties across the spectrum of cancer care, and will enable both organizations to take advantage of the particular strengths they each have to offer. Hartford HealthCare’s selection as the charter member of the MSK Cancer Alliance made big headlines, including in the Hartford Courant and The Wall Street Journal. MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 C utting edge research. Highly trained physicians. State-ofthe-art technology. These are all critically important components in a world-class cancer care program. But they won’t do much for patients without an efficient and coordinated method for making sure patients have access to them when they need them most. At the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, patients are assured of receiving the highest quality care through disease management teams (DMTs) — multidisciplinary teams of cancer specialists, providers and caregivers who work together to ensure a single, consistent standard of care. This patientcentered, coordinated approach to cancer care is based on best practices in the field and is widely used at leading cancer treatment and research centers nationwide, including Memorial Sloan Kettering. “Disease management teams are at the core of everything we do,” said Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute. “They allow us to achieve excellence across the spectrum by incorporating evidence-based treatment guidelines, practices and procedures with access to cutting-edge clinical research and targeted therapies.” Across the HHC system, DMTs have been established for five types of cancer diagnosis: breast, lung, genitourinary, GI and GYN/oncology. In addition, at Hartford Hospital, hospital-specific DMTs for nine cancer disease sites have been operating for four years: breast, thoracic, GU, GI and hepato oncology, GYN/ oncology, head and neck, neuro-oncology, hematology and melanoma/skin/soft tissue. The DMT model is designed to create cost-effective pathways that eliminate duplication and unnecessary tests and treatment. PLUS Barbara Gaughan, RN, nurse navigator at Hartford Hospital, gets into the spirit of the communications kickoff for the HHC Cancer Institute, held Jan. 31. Small footballs, like the ones below, were part of the pre-Super Bowl theme. 3 PLUS ‘MSK Cancer Alliance is a two-way street’ To learn more about the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, MSK spoke to Richard Barakat, MD, deputy physician-in-chief for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. with Richard Barakat, MD saying that the educational component of the MSK Cancer Alliance is a two-way street. Alliance members may, for example, be able to participate in our disease management teams or make on-site observations. There may also be opportunities to collaborate on joint research projects to measure outcomes related to survival rates, quality of life, or the overall cost of care. On our end, the Alliance is helping us learn firsthand how to deliver care and offer clinical trails in the community setting. It will also help us to broaden the impact of our program of clinical trials by opening them up to a much larger patient population. I should also add that none of this requires the building of any new facilities, and that makes this approach a cost-effective model for community providers seeking to optimize their cancer care. Q. Why did Memorial Sloan Kettering choose Hartford HealthCare as its first alliance member? A. We selected Hartford HealthCare as our charter member first and foremost because HHC shares our commitment to excellence in patient care, and has an established reputation in the community it serves. HHC’s cancer program is one of the highest-quality programs in the region and is responsible for the care of approximately 18 percent of all cancer patients in Connecticut. The fact that Hartford Q. What is happening with the Hartford alliance right now? A. Right now, we are helping the HHC Cancer Institute enhance its programs of cancer care and clinical research, including through access to Memorial Sloan Kettering clinical trials on site. As the collaboration moves forward, certain HHC cancer doctors will participate in observerships and be integrated into our disease management teams. We will also jointly recruit a chief medical officer for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute who will be on staff at both HHC and Memorial Sloan Kettering. It’s important to note that HHC patients will remain patients of the HHC Cancer Institute and will continue to receive their care locally. The HHC advertising campaign is really a measure of HHC’s enthusiasm for our collaboration and the significant improvements it will bring to regional cancer care when the program launches later this spring. Q. What is the plan for the MSK Cancer Alliance going forward? A. Our immediate focus is on ensuring that the alliance with Hartford begins successfully. Ultimately, our goal for the future is to create a network of providers that extends beyond the New York metropolitan area so that we can reach patients in more communities. Richard Barakat, MD, is the deputy physician-in-chief for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Regional Care Network and Alliances. This interview appeared on the Memorial Sloan Kettering blog and is used with MSK’s permission. You can read this on MSK’s website at www.mskcc.org/blog/new-adcampaign-features-msk-alliance How to reach us On the cover n By phone: Call the Cancer Connect line at 855-255-6181. n Online: Visit www.togetherahead.org n On Facebook: Like the Hartford HealthCare Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HartfordHealthCare. n Leading the communications kickoff for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute are, from left, Andrew Salner, MD, director of the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center; Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the HHC Cancer Institute; and Jeffrey Flaks, HHC’s chief operating officer. OF ALL THE HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD TO PARTNER WITH, MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CHOSE US. WHO WILL YOU CHOOSE? Hartford HealthCare is proud to be the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. One of the world’s most renowned cancer centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering, is now working together with Hartford HealthCare, the most comprehensive health system in Connecticut. This remarkable, one-of-a-kind alliance will enable a single standard of care, as well as unprecedented access to clinical trials, innovative treatments and breakthrough research that will keep our specialists, researchers and patients ahead of cancer. To learn more, visit TogetherAhead.org, or call our Cancer Connect line at 855.255.6181. MEMBER T O G E T H E R . A H E A D O F C A N C E R . + + Q. What are some other distinctive features of the MSK Cancer Alliance? A. One feature I’d like to emphasize is the tremendous opportunity for what we call bidirectional learning — which is really just another way of Q&A Hospital is one of only 30 hospitals nationwide designated as an NCI Community Cancer Center was also a compelling factor. MARCH 2014 MARCH 2014 Q. What is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance and why did MSK decide to create it? A. The concept of the MSK Cancer Alliance was borne out of our strong desire to advance the quality of cancer care for people who receive treatment in their local communities. It can take years for the cutting-edge work we do at Memorial Sloan Kettering to reach the community setting. Our hope is to speed up this process so that regional providers are delivering the best care and achieving the best outcomes possible for their patients — and doing it sooner rather than later. Also, because we know that the vast majority of cancer care in the United States is delivered in a community setting, we are interested in becoming more closely involved with how cancer care is practiced outside of a specialty center like ours. What membership in the Alliance actually entails will vary according to the specific needs of our members. Generally speaking, an alliance with Memorial Sloan Kettering empowers members to adopt the latest standards in cancer care. It could also involve clinical trials, which allow patients to receive the newest, most cutting-edge therapies available. In fact, the HHC Cancer Institute will include our first clinical trials site established through the MSK Cancer Alliance. 2 PLUS News from Memorial Sloan Kettering 7 Plus News from the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute B News from the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute MEMBER MARCH 2014 | ISSUE 2 In this issue n MSK Alliance is a ‘two-way street’ n HHC Cancer Institute sites and descriptions n Why disease management teams matter Setting a new standard + MARCH 2014 Donna Handley 8 Vice President of Operations, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute The field of cancer treatment and research can understandably be tinged with the fear and doubt that come with a cancer diagnosis. But for those of us who have dedicated ourselves to bringing new levels of care to cancer patients, this can also be a field that offers inspiration and hope like none other. The work that we are doing at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute — and the work that we will be doing throughout the coming year — should give anyone reason to feel hopeful about the prospects for cancer care in Connecticut. The pioneering innovations we are making in the delivery of world-class cancer care will undoubtedly make an enormous, life-changing difference for greater numbers of people throughout our communities. In particular, our organization is energized and invigorated by our status as the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, and the promise that partnership holds for bringing state-of-the-art cancer therapies and research to our patients here in Connecticut. Through our partnership with MSK, the outstanding teams of oncologists, primary care physicians and clinical support staff who work across the Hartford HealthCare system will now be able to elevate the quality of care they deliver to an even higher level. That’s what our Institute is all about: setting a new, single standard of cancer care for the people in our communities. We are taking the best that each of our member hospitals and cancer centers has to offer and, through our work with MSK, giving our patients the most advanced, most customized and most promising therapies to be found anywhere. We are engaged right now in groundbreaking, standard-setting work within our Institute. From cutting edge research in new frontiers like genomics to investments in the latest technologies and electronic infrastructures, our Institute is opening new doors and possibilities for everyone who takes part in our mission of care. And that, in turn, creates hope — for us and our patients. More than a slogan New relationship with Memorial Sloan Kettering touted in print, online and on TV ‘T ogether. Ahead of cancer.” That’s the theme driving the news that the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. I t’s the tagline for the partnership’s new website, togetherahead.org; and it’s the message behind every print or electronic ad that people in our communities are starting to see on their TVs and in newspapers. In the months to come, the message will be spread on billboards, through more social media and in community talks. For Hartford HealthCare employees and providers, though, it is not just an advertising slogan. It’s a message of innovation and hope — a chance to learn and help others understand how, as part of MSK’s Cancer Alliance, our Cancer Institute will improve the quality of cancer care and the lives of cancer patients. The effort to spread the word about the collaboration began on the last day of January, when a gathering of HHC cancer care leaders reviewed the messages at Heublein Hall at Hartford Hospital in the Education Resource Center. The communications kickoff featured a preview of two TV commercials that See NEWS, page 3