Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

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(Houma, LA) – A new cancer alliance has been formed providing the most comprehensive and state-of-the art cancer care available to patients in the Bayou region. Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC), Cancer Care Specialists (CCS) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBP) have signed an agreement to provide strategic, long-term solutions for battling cancer in the Bayou region through a comprehensive cancer program located on the TGMC campus. This multidisciplinary program, with its depth of service, wealth of technology and clinical expertise, provides immediate access to the vital resources needed to fight cancer. 

The program offers a full continuum of cancer care, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship. The program provides surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as advanced resources and support services necessary to strengthen cancer care including medical physics expertise, diagnostic imaging, pathology, clinical research and nutrition and social services. In addition to providing expert physicians and treatment, the program also brings critical community-based cancer screenings and educational outreach programs to the area. The new program will be known as Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC.  

“By entering into this partnership with two other cancer care innovators, TGMC is clearly demonstrating its commitment to provide the highest level of comprehensive cancer care services for the residents of the Bayou region and the surrounding communities. Many of our families and friends are affected by cancer, and we are proud to provide the individualized care that they need right here in Terrebonne Parish,” explained Jerri Smitko, chairwoman, TGMC Board of Commissioners.  

“Together, we are providing an important need – local access to quality cancer care,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO, TGMC. “We are delighted to partner with Mary Bird Perkins and Cancer Care Specialists to meet this incredible and important need for cancer patients of Terrebonne Parish and the surrounding area.” 

The creation of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC demonstrates the hospital’s long-standing commitment to always put patients first − the primary focus of TGMC’s desire to expand oncology services offered in the Bayou region. For over 50 years, TGMC has built a reputation based on quality and is a nationally recognized health care organization that provides state-of-the-art technology and services. This initiative affords TGMC the opportunity to expand on its current expertise in cancer care and stay on the leading edge of innovative cancer treatment technology.

“This partnership will provide access to high-quality, multidisciplinary cancer care and research in Terrebonne Parish – one of the fastest growing parishes in southeast Louisiana. We believe that local access to enhanced care for the convenience of the community and the combined, expert resources of these three organizations are meeting the vital needs of cancer patients in the area.” said Dr. Raul Doria, Medical Director, Cancer Program and physician partner of CCS, whose medical group has over 45 years of combined experience in caring for cancer patients.   
“The resources of Mary Bird Perkins, TGMC and CCS represent a powerful combination in the fight against cancer. We are honored to be a part of this community and to serve cancer patients with this state-of-the-art cancer care team,” said Todd Stevens, president and CEO, MBP.

Each organization brings tremendous resources to the table in the fight against cancer. TGMC currently offers the latest in proven treatments and technology to give its patients the service they expect. Some of the cancer diagnosis and treatment services offered include chemotherapy; flow cytometry; digital mammography; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); image guided biopsy; breast biopsy ultrasound; and Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) as well as several other imaging services. TGMC’s staff of Board-certified medical oncologists has been trained at some of the nation’s leading cancer-care facilities. Its RNs, LPNs and other support staff are specially trained to provide the medical support and personal encouragement needed by cancer patients during all stages of the disease.

Medical oncology is being provided by the physicians of CCS. Radiation oncology is being provided by Southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group (SLROG) whose members practice exclusively at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center locations and have over 180 years of combined experience. State-of-the-art comprehensive radiation therapy services include an image guided high-energy linear accelerator; advanced intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment capability; image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) treatment capability; positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) capability; sophisticated planning stations, as well as physics and dosimetry quality assurance instrumentation and software. 

Mary Bird Perkins has been solely dedicated to fighting cancer for over 35 years, serving 15 parishes in southeast Louisiana. Its commitment to provide leading-edge technology to cancer patients is evident in its significant technology investments. Since 2001, MBP has invested nearly $20 million in direct patient care equipment, technology and facilities. Recently, MBP signed a multi-center radiation therapy agreement to invest another $20 million over the next several years in patient treatment technology throughout its network.

Unique to MBP is its nationally-competitive medical physics program, one of only twelve accredited graduate level programs in the nation. Medical physics is a discipline vital to the provision of radiation therapy, and MBP is home to the largest and most experienced medical physics team in Louisiana.

The new comprehensive cancer program also provides community education and outreach. In 2007, through philanthropic support, MBP was able to invest nearly $2.2 million in communities through cancer education, prevention, early detection services and research. Since the inception of its outreach program in 2002, over 500 screening events have been conducted and over 23,000 people have been screened – at no cost to the screening patient. “We look forward to working with TGMC to share the message of early detection,” said Renea Duffin, executive director, CARE Network, MBP. “Going straight to the community to help people better understand how to reduce their risk for cancer and to encourage people to get screened helps save lives.”

Mary Bird Perkins believes communities benefit when the expertise of hospitals, local physicians, support organizations and the “cancer-only” focus of MBP are linked together to form a comprehensive cancer program – and such is the case with the new partnership with TGMC and CCS. Mary Bird Perkins currently operates comprehensive cancer programs with two other partner hospitals - Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. It has locations in Baton Rouge, Hammond and Covington, and is currently developing a treatment facility in partnership with St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales.  

TGMC is a public, non-profit integrated healthcare system consisting of a 321-licensed bed acute care facility complete with a range of services. The medical center serves as a major economic force for the community with a staff of over 1,300 employees, a medical staff of over 160 active staff physicians offering a variety of specialties ranging from allergist to urologist and over 50 volunteers.

The physicians of Cancer Care Specialists (CCS) have over 45 years of combined experience in caring for cancer patients in the Bayou region. CCS’s focus is to provide each patient the very best care with a personalized treatment plan in a warm and professional environment. Physician partners include Raul Doria, M.D., Oncologist; Harry McGaw, M.D., Oncologist; Robert Gamble, M.D., Oncologist/Hematologist; James Ellis, M.D., Oncologist; and John Kennedy, M.D., Oncologist. CCS has multiple locations including offices in Luling, Galliano, Morgan City, Thibodaux and Houma.  

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has been fighting cancer for over 35 years with locations in Baton Rouge, Covington and Hammond and soon to be in Gonzales. It has integrated cancer programs with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. These programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons – the gold standard for community-based cancer care. For more information visit marybird.org.

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