Jefferson Regional is pleased to announce it is expanding access to local cancer care for residents of Southeast Arkansas. The health system is making an $8 million investment to develop a fully integrated Cancer Center, which will be located on campus in the Jefferson Professional Center 1 building (JPC 1). Construction will consist of two phases – the first being an expanded medical oncology clinic with an infusion center capable of treating 27 patients, which will be open in June 2021. The second phase will include the construction of a radiation oncology suite that will be complete near the end of 2021.
The Cancer Center is the health system’s latest investment in building a comprehensive cancer program designed to meet the unique needs of residents in Pine Bluff and throughout Southeast Arkansas. Arkansas ranks among the states with the highest incidences of new cancers in the U.S., and the Jefferson Regional Cancer Center is a direct reflection of the organization’s continued commitment to ensuring local residents have access to exceptional cancer care when and where they need it.
Find out more about our cancer services here: https://www.jrmc.org/cancer
“For many decades, cancer care has been an important part of the services we provide to our region, but it has never been more important than it is today,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Thomas. “As the region’s trusted healthcare provider, we have a responsibility to continually listen and learn as the needs of our patients grow and evolve. With this recent investment, all of our cancer care services will now be conveniently located under one roof and designed with one person in mind – the patient. Jefferson Regional provides southeast Arkansas with the largest physician network, consisting of more than seventy providers and twenty specialties, ready to meet the needs of patients with cancer. Furthermore, Jefferson Regional’s network of specialists are right here in the region, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Competition from Little Rock simply cannot compare because they have to transfer patients out of the region for such specialty care.”
The Jefferson Regional Cancer Center will offer seamless access to services including physician visits, an infusion center, a Breast Center, imaging services, radiation oncology, care coordination and financial navigation. Through the new Cancer Center, Jefferson Regional will be able to coordinate care more easily for patients – from screening and diagnosis to therapy and beyond.
“This is an exciting step forward for Jefferson Regional and the patients we serve,” said Dr. Asif Masood, Hematologist/Oncologist. “Having cancer is just as stressful mentally as it is physically. Our goal is to reduce that burden by having a central location for all cancer care. We want our patients to focus their time on healing, not navigating their care. The Jefferson Regional Cancer Center will help us achieve that goal.”
The new Cancer Center will elevate Jefferson Regional’s already strong cancer program and the work of the existing comprehensive cancer team, according to Chief Medical Officer Reid Pierce, M.D. “In addition to our physicians who specialize in cancer care, we are fortunate to also have an experienced group of surgeons and other specialists who help treat cancer patients. Because the Cancer Center is supported by the health system, our doctors share information via electronic medical records. This allows complete patient information to be available to doctors who care for the patient. Jefferson Regional is here for our community – no matter the day or time – and our patients can always get the care they need, when they need it.
Comments