Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center announces its new collaboration

An extension of a partnership between Banner Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center is bringing the expertise and innovative treatment approaches of one of America’s leading cancer care providers to Northern Colorado.

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center today announced its new collaboration to the Loveland community. Later today, Banner Health leaders will introduce the program in Greeley with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center.

This affiliation is an extension of Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Ariz. When Banner Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems, joined with MD Anderson Cancer Center, world renowned for its cancer treatment and research, a new level of care was introduced to the region. Banner joined MD Anderson Cancer Network® in 2011 and was one of its first clinically integrated partners. The Banner facilities in Greeley and Loveland are two of Banner’s 28 hospitals in the system.

The network extends MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer to hospitals and systems across the globe and complements Banner Health’s mission to “make health care easier so life can be better.”

The collaboration allows NCMC and McKee to provide greater access to the most advanced cancer care available for adult patients in Northern Colorado. Patients will continue to see the same care teams at Banner at Loveland and Greeley campuses, but will have access to MD Anderson protocols and practice standards. In addition, patients will benefit from their physicians having greater clinical integration with disease-specific specialists in Gilbert and Houston.

Multidisciplinary care

One of the most distinctive features of Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is its team approach to care. The multidisciplinary approach, which brings together a group of specialists to discuss and share insights on each patient’s case, is a hallmark of MD Anderson. The approach ensures that patients receive the best possible treatment plan and benefit from expertise of many specialists, not just one.

“We are so proud to join with the nation’s leading cancer center,” said Margo Karsten, chief executive officer of Banner Health in Northern Colorado and president of Banner Health’s Western Region. “Reaching this point has been a journey over the past several years during which our team has elevated the quality of its work, safety processes and patient experience even further to meet the rigorous standards set by MD Anderson.”

Earlier this month, MD Anderson was ranked No. 1 for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey. Since the survey began in 1990, MD Anderson has been named one of the top two cancer hospitals, and it has ranked first 14 times in the last 17 years.

“We are excited about the opportunity to team with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center. For patients in this region who want a new level of high-quality, specialized care, this collaboration allows them to stay close to home,” said Michael Kupferman, MD, senior vice president of Clinical and Academic Network Development at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Together, with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Arizona, we are going to advance the standard of cancer care for patients in the region.”

About Banner Health

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. It has ranked as one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 14 times in the last 17 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).