St. Luke’s and Liberty hospitals join forces on cancer care

Saint Luke’s and Liberty hospitals on Monday announced an agreement to partner on the provision of cancer care.

According to a news release, the hospitals are developing a program that will:

• Provide a comprehensive cancer diagnostic and treatment program at Liberty Hospital to serve as a regional hub for cancer care in Liberty and northeast Kansas City
• Expand coverage by oncologists and hematologists at Liberty Hospital
• Offer multidisciplinary treatment planning
• Offer patients access to industry and National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical studies
• Provide on-site infusion and chemotherapy, as well as genetic counseling, rehabilitation, survivorship and support services

The partnership will operate through the Regional Cancer Center at Liberty Hospital.

Through the affiliation, patients on the Liberty Hospital campus will have access to services such as mental health support, nutritional advice during and after treatment, support groups, fitness consultations, massage therapy, educational programs and other services.

Liberty Hospital is a public, 250-bed hospital that opened in 1974.

Saint Luke’s Hospital is part of a Kansas City-based system that includes 10 hospitals across the region, home care and hospice, behavioral health care and dozens of physician practices.

The collaboration between Liberty and Saint Luke’s follows an announcement in June 2013 that the University of Kansas Cancer Center and North Kansas City Hospital were partnering to create a new cancer program at North Kansas City Hospital.

Meanwhile, in September, HCA Midwest Health announced that it had launched an “integrated cancer initiative” with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute of Nashville, Tenn. HCA’s corporate offices are also in Nashville.

And, just last week, Olathe Medical Center announced that a 25,000-square-foot cancer center would be part of a more than $100 million expansion of the hospital.

Liberty Hospital CEO David Feess said in the release that “cancer is a chief concern for those we serve, and we want to deliver the best care possible. We’re pleased to invite Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute to our campus and help us grow this needed program.”

The CEO of Saint Luke’s Hospital, Julie Quirin, said in the release that hospital officials “look forward to collaborating on ways to provide leading-edge cancer care … to patients in Liberty and Northwest Missouri.”

Mike Sherry is a reporter for KCPT television in Kansas City, Mo., a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.