10/25/2013
By KALEY CONNER
Hays Daily News

Representatives with the University of Kansas Cancer Center were in Hays on Thursday touting the benefits of the center’s relationship with Hays Medical Center and other local hospitals through the Midwest Cancer Alliance.

The Midwest Cancer Alliance links KU Cancer Center in Kansas City to 19 other hospitals throughout the state, including facilities in Hays, Goodland and Oberlin. The partnership enables hospitals to offer more cutting-edge cancer treatments and specialty consults close to home, rather than sending so many patients to Kansas City or another large facility, said Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the KU Cancer Center.

“It’s being able to bring that latest, evidence-based care directly to the bedside no matter where you are in the state of Kansas,” Jensen said. “That’s what the Midwest Cancer Alliance is about.”

KU Med offers a variety of services — including Telemedicine consults with patients and educational courses — depending on the hospital’s needs. Higher level partners, including HaysMed, are able to offer new clinical trials for patients.

Advancements in cancer treatment have upped the five-year survival rate to 67 percent, Jensen said, noting there still is work to be done.

“To somebody like myself, that says a third of the patients that walk in the door, I don’t have answers for them,” he said. “And clinical research is basically the way that we improve that figure over the years, and that has to continue.”

HaysMed, a founding member of MCA in 2007, was offering four clinical trials from KU Med as of this summer. One of those trials was developed with the help of Dr. Anne O’Dea, a medical oncologist specializing in breast care at HaysMed.

The Telemedicine consults also are a valuable service — oncologists in Kansas City can provide second opinions to cancer patients without the patient having to travel.

“While cancer is a common enemy, each institution approaches things a little bit differently, and you can’t design a program that fits everybody,” Jensen said of letting each hospital select the services they need. “They select the things that will have the most value to their patient population.”

MCA director Dr. Gary Doolittle also long has had an outreach clinic in Hays.

The MCA is hoping to continue expanding its offerings to include more remote genetic testing and counseling, which can help patients identify a genetic pre-disposition to some forms of cancer. Other funding priorities include establishment of a post-treatment care program for survivors and expanding biospecimen banking at member sites to further cancer research.

The Breast Care Center and Hadley Foundation Imaging Center have moved from Oak Park to a new area at HaysMed, 2200 Canterbury, located just inside Entrance C, the Main Entrance. Renovations began earlier this year and both the Breast Care Center and the Hadley Foundation Imaging Center have moved into the new location. Patients will now have access to American College of Radiology (ACR) certified digital mammography, ACR certified ultrasound for breast and breast biopsy, breast MRI, stereotactic breast biopsy and ultrasound guided breast biopsy all located at the hospital.

This move allows patients to complete routine breast exams and imaging tests at the same location. In addition the BCC also provides risk analysis for women who have not been diagnosed with cancer along with genetic counseling and testing. Survivors will be afforded more in-depth health monitoring and counseling for lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Any side effects resulting from cancer treatment can also be monitored. The breast care center is a third year recipient of a Susan G. Komen grant funding which allows for survivorship educational programs, outreach breast awareness programs and a gas card program.

A new Nurse Navigator, Ashley Bauck, RN, BSN has been added to the center to facilitate coordination of care. The Nurse Navigator will guide patients through each step of the health care system from breast biopsy, diagnosis, treatment to survivorship. She will also identify barriers to care such as transportation or financial issues, language barriers and help link patients to resources that will help overcome these barriers. Additionally, the Nurse Navigator will help identify patients who are at high risk for breast cancer and link them with resources to help them manage their increased risk. Lastly, the Breast Health Nurse Navigator will help raise awareness of the needs of cancer survivors.

The Breast Care Center is overseen by Dr. Anne P. O’Dea, Oncologist, Medical Director and A. Nicole Spray, APRN.

Hays, Kan.  (July 1, 2013) The HaysMed Breast Care Center has been awarded a $49,710 grant from KOMEN Kansas. The award was announced May 29th,   2013 by the Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen. This is the third grant the Breast Care Center has received from KOMEN Kansas.

The grant money will provide for a Breast Health Nurse Navigator to enhance cancer care in Western Kansas. The Nurse Navigator will guide patients through each step of the health care system from breast biopsy, diagnosis, treatment to survivorship. She will also identify barriers to care such as transportation or financial issues, language barriers and help link patients to resources that will help overcome these barriers. Additionally, the Nurse Navigator will help identify patients who are at high risk for breast cancer and link them with resources to help them manage their increased risk. Lastly, the Breast Health Nurse Navigator will help raise awareness of the needs of cancer survivors. There are over 820 breast cancer survivors living in the region in need of quality survivorship care.

Over the last two years, the Breast Care Center has also used KOMEN grant funds to host breast awareness events in Norton, Sharon Springs, Oakley and Hays. With the receipt of this third award, plans are to provide additional educational program in Scott City, Osborne and Hays.

Since the opening of the Breast Care Center in May, 2011, 140 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer; an equal amount of women have been treated for precancerous conditions of the breast. Ninety women have had genetic BRCA counseling and testing.

“We are honored to receive Susan G. Komen grant funds”, said Dr. Anne O’Dea, Medical Director of the Breast Care Center. “We feel passionate about providing quality, comprehensive breast services to the women in Western Kansas and are fortunate to have these additional resources to meet the needs for those in our region.”

Working at the Breast Care Center with Dr. Anne O’Dea is A. Nicole Spray Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Lisa Reiter, Clinic Registered Nurse, Ashley Bauck, Breast Health Nurse Navigator and Michelle Beyer, Office Manager.