Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute has been designated an “MSK Care Partner” by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a move the organizations say formalizes clinical standards already in place through a long-running affiliation.
Hartford HealthCare joined Memorial Sloan Kettering’s cancer alliance roughly a decade ago. The new designation follows a review by MSK of oncology practices across Hartford HealthCare to determine whether they align with MSK’s clinical standards and care pathways.
The Fairfield region was the first part of Hartford HealthCare’s system to complete the review process, with other sites following, the organizations
said.
MSK Care Partners are health systems that agree to follow MSK-developed treatment standards and participate in clinical collaboration with the New York-based cancer center. Hartford HealthCare will continue operating its own cancer programs, but its physicians will work with MSK specialists on case reviews, including through connected multidisciplinary “tumor boards,” where complex cases are discussed by teams of surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists.
Patients treated within Hartford HealthCare’s system are expected to gain expanded access to MSK-led clinical trials, while remaining under the care of local doctors, according to the organizations.
Hartford HealthCare CEO Jeffrey Flaks said the expanded partnership is designed to expand in-state access to MSK-aligned treatment protocols, clinical trials and research-driven care across the health system.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center and operates a large portfolio of oncology clinical trials.
Hartford HealthCare officials said the goal is to provide care in Connecticut that follows the same clinical pathways used at MSK, reducing the need for some patients to travel out of state for certain types of cancer expertise.
