Markey, Hardin Memorial Health Join Together to Provide Complex Cancer Care in Central and Western Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2014) – Hardin Memorial Health celebrated a new affiliation between its Cancer Care Center and the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, the state's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

"The Markey affiliate agreement provides a great opportunity for professional education and training for our staff and physicians," said Hardin Memorial Health President Dennis Johnson. "Collaboration with Markey and their affiliates across the state allows our team to stay up-to-date on the newest cancer treatments and research." 

"There is no reason for cancer patients in central Kentucky to leave this area to seek treatment, because the HMH Cancer Care Center provides personalized cancer care close to home," said Dr. Adam Lye, medical director of the Hardin Memorial Health Cancer Care Center. "This care can be enhanced when combined with Markey's specialized treatment, technology and clinical trial opportunities that will help us take cancer care to the next level. This is great news for cancer patients and their families in our community."

The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network was created to provide high-quality cancer care closer to home for patients across the region, and to minimize the effects of cancer through prevention and education programs, exceptional clinical care, and access to research.

By joining the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network, the HMH Cancer Care Center will be able to offer their patients access to additional specialty and subspecialty physicians and care, including clinical trials and advanced technology, while allowing them to stay closer to home for most treatments. The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network supports UK HealthCare's overall mission of ensuring no Kentuckian will have to leave the state to get access to top-of-the-line health care.

"UK HealthCare doesn't just serve Lexington and central Kentucky – our mission is to provide all Kentuckians with the best possible care right here in the state," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network allows us to collaborate with community hospitals to provide top-notch cancer care much closer to home -- saving both travel expenses and time for the patients, in addition to keeping them close to their personal support system."

Markey is one of only 68 medical centers in the country to earn an NCI cancer center designation. Because of the designation, Markey patients have access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI centers.

Moving forward, the Markey Cancer Center is working toward the next tier of designation – an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently, 41 of the 68 NCI-designated cancer centers in the country hold a comprehensive cancer center status. The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network will play a large role in bringing that next level of cancer funding to Kentucky.

"The burden of cancer in Kentucky is huge, and unfortunately we have some of the worst cancer rates in the country," said Dr. Mark Evers, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center. "By collaborating with our affiliate hospitals across the state, we have the potential to make a serious impact on cancer care here in the Commonwealth."

The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network began in 2006 and comprises eleven hospitals across the state of Kentucky:

• ARH Cancer Center-Hazard
• Frankfort Regional Medical Center
• Georgetown Community Hospital
• Hardin Memorial Health Cancer Care Center, Elizabethtown
• Harlan ARH Hospital
• Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana
• Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville (Norton Healthcare-UK HealthCare partnership)
• Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland
• Rockcastle Regional Hospital, Mount Vernon
• St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead
• Williamson ARH Hospital

Evaluations are under way for several other hospitals, including two more outside the state of Kentucky, extending Markey's reach and establishing it as the destination cancer center for the region. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu