Aurora Health Care and UW Health will play a role in ProHealth Care’s new 116,000-square-foot cancer center in Pewaukee that is scheduled to open on Aug. 10.
UW Health has signed an agreement to co-manage the center with ProHealth Care, and, along with its Carbone Cancer Center, will provide medical direction for the treatment of all cancer patients at the Pewaukee location.
As for Aurora, several of its cancer specialists will deliver care at the center in a move that is considered Aurora’s first step toward a more clinically integrated relationship with UW Health and ProHealth Care in cancer care.
Aurora Health Care, ProHealth Care and UW Health all belong to the statewide AboutHealth network, which was introduced in August 2014. AboutHealth also includes Aspirus, Bellin Health, Gundersen Health System and ThedaCare. On Tuesday it was announced that Marshfield Clinic Health System has also joined.
“The people of ProHealth Care have been improving care in Waukesha County for 100 years,” said Susan Edwards, chief executive officer of ProHealth Care. “We have long offered excellent cancer services. Now, with this collaboration with UW Health and Aurora, we are taking a giant leap forward in cancer services.”
At the center, the three systems intend to collaborate in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, ancillary services and imaging. The health systems say that their integrated relationship will address all aspects of a cancer patient’s needs, reduce variation in care and improve outcomes.
“As one of the state’s leading providers in cancer care and research, we’re pleased to be able to bring our expertise to the table in this way to help more people live well,” said Dr. Nick Turkal, CEO of Aurora Health Care. “While this is exciting news for the three health systems, we think it is even more exciting for the people who stand to benefit so greatly.”
Added Dr. Howard Bailey, director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center: “Cancer is the leading cause of death in our state. We are committed to redefining and refining ‘state of the art’ in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This new opportunity will help us accelerate our translation of the basic science discoveries in our center’s laboratories into new and innovative approaches to cancer care.”
The ProHealth Care cancer center nearing completion just off Interstate 94 will offer infusion therapy, radiation therapy, imaging services, cancer rehabilitation and other services. As part of a new 162,000-square-foot campus, it will also house a multi-specialty clinic and advanced diagnostic center. The complete project/campus cost is roughly $100 million.
