In January, Allegheny Health Network will close an oncology clinic that UPMC was set to purchase in March, requiring UPMC to address the abrupt discontinuation of cancer services for patients.
Pittsburgh-based UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is expediting plans to provide cancer services at the Somerset, Pa.-based office because of AHN's decision. UPMC has anticipated taking over operations at the cancer center in March 2020, however after negotiations broke down with the building owner, AHN decided to cease operations at the clinic Jan. 30.
Until UPMC can fully take over the Somerset clinic, patients will have to temporarily transition to another facility, with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at John P. Murtha Pavilion in Johnstown, Pa., being the closest at 31 miles from Somerset.
"With just about 30 days to put a plan in place to continue local oncology services in Somerset, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center wants to ensure current cancer patients, who are in the middle of their care plans, that we can successfully transition them to the closest UPMC Hillman Cancer Center of their choosing," Stephanie Dutton, COO of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement. "We realize how difficult a cancer diagnosis can be and we are expediting plans to provide oncology care without interruption for these patients."
UPMC and AHN have been negotiating a deal at the Somerset location since early 2019, AHN said in a statement to Becker's. UPMC was aware about the end of January deadline in October, AHN said.
AHN continued: "It has been a privilege for AHN Cancer Institute to provide medical and radiation oncology services to Somerset-area patients over the past two decades, and to collaborate with Somerset Hospital in fulfilling that mission. With UPMC’s recent purchase of Somerset Hospital, given that change in the market, we have made a decision after very careful deliberation to close our cancer center in Somerset, effective Jan. 31."
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include a statement from AHN.