Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa., has entered into a new partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, according to a Republican & Herald report.
Here are four things to know about the partnership.
1. The arrangement, under which LVHN is joining the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, will allow LVHN doctors to collaborate with peers at Memorial Sloan Kettering, according to the report.
2. LVHN is the second alliance member. Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare Cancer Institute became the first alliance member in September 2014. The Cancer Alliance has three main goals, according to the report. They are "fostering the rapid adoption of advanced, evidence-based standards of care, improving the quality of care and outcomes for patients, and expanding access to clinical trials and cutting-edge cancer research."
3. In looking for a potential partner within a 250-mile radius of New York City, Memorial Sloan Kettering was attracted to LVHN's strong record of conducting clinical trials, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering CEO Craig Thompson, MD.
4. Currently, LVHN is participating in about 100 cancer clinical trials, according to the report, which cites information from Suresh G. Nair, MD, who serves as medical director of LVHN's cancer program. The number of trials could gradually rise to 800 through Memorial Sloan Kettering’s involvement, Dr. Nair said, according to the report.
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