UK HealthCare, Lexington Clinic collaboration will strengthen outpatient cancer care
UK HealthCare and Lexington Clinic have finalized an agreement that will enhance and expand outpatient cancer care throughout Central Kentucky.
Under the new collaboration, UK Markey Cancer Center at Lexington Clinic will include medical oncology and infusion services currently provided in Lexington; the radiation therapy services and the medical oncology and infusion services in Richmond, Ky., will also be delivered in coordination with the UK Markey Cancer Center. UK HealthCare is the clinical enterprise for the university. The collaboration will begin June 24.
Founded in 1920, Lexington Clinic is a community-focused provider and the largest independent multi-specialty group in Kentucky with more than 200 providers in 30 different specialties. The group sees more than 1,000 new cancer patients every year.
“Lexington Clinic and the Markey Cancer Center have served Central Kentucky with the best possible cancer care for decades," said Dr. Andrew H. Henderson, Lexington Clinic CEO. "This collaboration will increase our ability to reach more patients, expand the services offered by our cancer centers and further Lexington Clinic’s commitment to building a healthier community.”
UK HealthCare is focused on bolstering its outpatient services in critical clinical areas, such as cancer. The new relationship with Lexington Clinic will, among other things, expand the number of patients who could participate in clinical trials, which are crucial to the development of new drugs and therapies at the UK Markey Cancer Center, the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated program. It also creates opportunities to boost UK’s tripartite mission of excellence in research, education and clinical care within the Bluegrass.
"Under this new agreement, our patients will benefit from the outstanding community oncology services that Lexington Clinic has to offer, combined with research opportunities and complex care that only an NCI-designated cancer center like Markey can provide,” said Dr. Mark F. Newman, UK executive vice president for health affairs. “We’re excited to be moving forward with this collaboration, which will benefit so many patients in need of cancer care here in Central Kentucky."
