Trinity Health Of New England, which operates four hospitals in Connecticut, is seeking to join the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Cancer Care Collaborative, the organizations announced Wednesday.
The Hartford-based health system said the move will strengthen its oncology services through clinical expertise, education and program development.
THONE said it has begun an assessment process with the intent of becoming a collaborative member by January. Dana-Farber will provide clinical support services during the evaluation, officials said.
If finalized, the collaboration will initially focus on medical oncology and give THONE physicians access to Dana-Farber subspecialists, multidisciplinary tumor boards and case-review sessions, along with educational programs, professional development opportunities and guidance on oncology program development and best practices.
Steven Hanks, THONE president and CEO, said the initiative aligns with the health system’s strategy to expand cancer care while keeping services local.
“We are building an oncology program that is locally led, regionally integrated and designed for long-term growth and clinical excellence for years to come,” Hanks said in a statement.
Under the partnership, patients will continue to receive care from their existing physicians and care teams, according to Robert Roose, president of St. Francis Hospital and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs and St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury.
The health system also will continue investing in recruiting oncology clinicians and expanding its workforce, Roose added.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative is a partnership program through which hospitals and health systems receive clinical guidance, education and treatment protocols from the Boston-based cancer center while continuing to provide care locally.
Trinity Health Of New England is part of the Michigan-based Trinity Health system. In addition to its hospitals here, it also has a regional physician group serving Connecticut and western Massachusetts.
