Markey expands affiliate network to south-central Kentucky
T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow, Ky., has joined the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network, enhancing cancer care available to patients in south-central Kentucky and allowing them to stay closer to home and their support systems for most treatments.
Markey is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
Previously, T.J. Samson had entered into a formal collaboration with Markey to help develop the hospital’s oncology service line. The relationship helped T.J. Samson strengthen patient navigation, psychosocial support, survivorship and rehabilitation services with the ultimate goal of earning a full affiliation with the Markey Affiliate Network.
“At T.J. Regional Health, our vision is to utilize available resources to anticipate and exceed the healthcare needs of the region with a focus on quality and compassionate care,” said Bud Wethington, president and CEO of T.J. Regional Health. “Our affiliation with the UK Markey Cancer Center allows us to further enhance care available to cancer patients and shows our commitment to go above and beyond the standard level of care for these patients.”
High-quality cancer care close to home
T.J. Samson currently provides oncology services at the T.J. Health Pavilion under the direction of Dr. Donald Goodin and Dr. Yashpal Modi.
Goodin and Modi are both board certified in hematology/oncology, and they work closely with Dr. William Tyree at the Barren River Regional Cancer Center. Tyree is board certified in radiation oncology and has been practicing in south-central Kentucky since 2013.
These physicians, along with their highly trained staff, provide complex oncology services including diagnostic imaging, surgery, radiation, palliative care and chemotherapy close to home.
The Markey Affiliate Network was created to provide high-quality cancer care closer to home for patients across the region, and to minimize the effects of cancer through prevention and education programs, exceptional clinical care, and access to research. The affiliate network is especially important for Kentucky, where cancer rates are the highest in the nation.
“Kentucky is home to some of the worst cancer rates in the country,” said Dr. Tim Mullett, medical director of the affiliate network. “The affiliate network provides a way for us to directly address this problem by providing access to programs and services that each hospital needs to fight cancer in their own region. We want patients to receive treatment close to home if they can, but Markey is here to provide advanced care and clinical trials for patients who have more complex cancers.”
The role of the affiliate network
Markey is one of only 69 medical centers in the country to earn an NCI cancer center designation. Because of the designation, Markey patients have access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI-designated centers.
Moving forward, Markey is working toward the next tier of designation – an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently, 45 of the 69 NCI-designated cancer centers in the country hold a Comprehensive Cancer Center status. Markey’s affiliate network will play a large role in bringing that next level of cancer funding to Kentucky.
The affiliate network was created in 2006 and is made up of 20 hospitals across the Commonwealth.
