Clark Regional Medical Center Joins Forces with UK HealthCare to Provide Expanded Heart, Cancer Care
WINCHESTER, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2014) -- Today, UK HealthCare announced that Clark Regional Medical Center (CRMC) is now an affiliate in the University of Kentucky's Gill Heart Institute Affiliate Network and also has entered into a formal collaboration with the UK Markey Cancer Center to develop its oncology service line.
"We are excited about expanding our outpatient services in collaboration with UK HealthCare. This allows us to offer quality heart care with convenience of location to our community and the surrounding areas,” Cherie Sibley, chief executive officer of CRMC said. “Clark Regional Medical Center’s mission is to make our community healthier, and clinical affiliations between our community hospital and a regional tertiary provider enable us to advance our mission even further. ”
The collaboration between CRMC and the Gill Heart Institute will improve access to tools for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, said Dr. Rick McClure, director of the Gill Heart Network of affiliates and health care partners.
"What started as a conversation about how to provide the highest quality cardiovascular care locally has transformed into a healthy collaboration between these institutions," McClure said. “Quality cardiovascular care – available in close proximity to the patients we serve – is a critical need in the region, and the Gill Heart Institute is proud to work with CRMC to help provide that."
In addition to high rates of cardiac health problems, Kentucky also faces some of the highest rates of cancer incidence and mortality in the nation. By establishing a new oncology service in Winchester, CRMC is demonstrating its commitment to providing top-notch care for its cancer patients. The UK Markey Cancer Center -- one of only 68 medical centers in the country to earn a prestigious National Cancer Institute designation -- is assisting Clark Regional Medical Center in establishing its new oncology program, which will be grounded in Markey's policies and standards.
"We are eager to work with Clark Regional in building a strong oncology program," said Dr. Timothy Mullett, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. "Our state unfortunately ranks at the top in terms of cancer incidence and mortality, but by working together with hospitals across the state, we have the potential to make a serious impact on cancer prevention and care."
UK Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Michael Karpf emphasized that CRMC’s new relationships with UK HealthCare are in the best interest of patients and their families.
"It has long been our goal to be Kentucky's resource for highly complex quaternary care, so that patients don't have to go out of state for the best treatments available. But it makes the most sense for those same patients to be cared for locally whenever possible," Karpf said. "These new relationships with Clark Regional Medical Center make this a reality for the people of Clark and surrounding counties."
CRMC’s local cardiology and oncology providers will remain the same with these affiliations. Dr. Charles Salters Jr., will continue to see patients in his office at Clark Cardiology and Dr. Stephen Anderson is accepting new patients in his clinic at Clark Clinic Oncology. Both clinics are located at 225 Hospital Drive in Winchester.
About UK Markey Cancer Center
The Markey Cancer Center was founded in 1983 and is a dedicated matrix cancer center established as an integral part of the University of Kentucky and the UK HealthCare enterprise.
In July 2013, Markey was designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to receive research funding and many other opportunities available only to the nation’s best cancer centers. Markey is the only NCI-designated center in Kentucky and one of only 68 in the country.
The clinical programs and services of the Markey Cancer Center are integrated with the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Markey's cancer specialty teams work together with UK Chandler Hospital departments and divisions to provide primary patient care and support services as well as advanced specialty care with applicable clinical trials. All diagnostic services, clinical and pathology laboratories, operating rooms, emergent and intensive care, and radiation therapy services are also provided to cancer patients through UK Chandler Hospital.
About UK Gill Heart Institute
Founded in 1997, the Linda and Jack Gill Heart Institute at the University of Kentucky is recognized as a leader in research and clinical treatment of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart transplants, valve replacement and other interventional therapies, and state-of-the-art cardiovascular imaging. Physicians at the Gill saw more than 15,000 outpatients last year and completed more than 25,000 image studies. There are 10 members of the Gill Affiliate Network, which provides cardiology services and expertise to local hospitals in Kentucky and West Virginia.
About Clark Regional Medical Center
Clark Regional Medical Center is a 79 bed, community hospital which has served the residents of east central Kentucky since 1917. The Medical Center has more than 100 affiliated physicians, over 400 employees, and 100 volunteers on its staff. The hospital was acquired by LifePoint Hospitals in May, 2010 and completed its relocation to a new, $60 million, state of the art medical campus in March, 2012.
From the Centers for Disease Control:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. In 2008, more than 616,000 Americans died of heart disease. Almost one in every four deaths in the US is caused by heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is also the #1 cause of death in Kentucky. Kentucky has the 9th highest death rate from CV disease in the US.
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