Rush University System for Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have partnered in a bid to increase access to cancer care in the Chicago area.
Chicago-headquartered Rush is the latest health system to join MD Anderson’s clinically affiliated network, the nonprofit providers announced Friday.
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Through the partnerships, health systems undertake an MD Anderson-led certification process designed to establish the same protocol and treatment plans offered at the Houston-based cancer provider. Patients at select hospitals in these systems have access to MD Anderson's clinical trials and network of specialists.
The Rush-MD Anderson affiliation involves Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Rush Oak Park Hospital in Chicago's western suburbs, Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois, and Rush Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville, Illinois.
“Partnering with MD Anderson and their bold vision to be the premier cancer center in the world tells our patients that they can continue to expect the best possible care from Rush,” Rush President and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef said in a news release.
MD Anderson's clinical network also includes New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, Phoenix-based Banner Health and Jacksonville, Florida-based Baptist Health.
New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has formed similar partnerships with provider organizations since 2013, and Duarte, California-based City of Hope is teaming up with academic health systems through AccessHope, a startup it spun out in 2020.
