COUDERSPORT — A recent release from UPMC has announced an integration of the Patterson Cancer Center at UPMC Cole with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The release announces that “As part of this integration, UPMC Cole will discontinue the radiation oncology program at the hospital on July 31, 2020.”
UPMC officials note the move is meant to “connect local cancer patients with the combined expertise of Hillman’s leading doctors, researchers, and specialty treatments available in Wellsboro, Williamsport, and Pittsburgh.”
Janie Hilfiger, president of UPMC Cole and UPMC Wellsboro, stated, “When Cole joined UPMC, a commitment was made to evaluate the services at Patterson Cancer Center and develop a plan to continue to provide comprehensive oncology services to our community. Over the last two years, our leadership team and board have been working hard to complete this evaluation, carefully considering national best practices, our equipment, staffing, and resources.”
Hilfiger went on to say the move to discontinue radiation oncology at UPMC Cole will “allow us to focus our efforts on enhancing the medical oncology services at UPMC Cole as part of the integration with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and will ultimately result in better outcomes for our patients.”
The release stated that both current and future local patients in need of radiation oncology can choose to receive the treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport.
“Our radiation oncology program in Williamsport uses state-of-the-art equipment including a new radiation treatment machine called the Edge that became operational in 2019,” said Michelle Gaida, administrative director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport and Wellsboro. “The Edge offers multiple advanced treatment options that can shorten treatment time and deliver radiation quickly and more precisely to even the smallest tumors.”
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has more than 60 locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Ireland and Italy. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center serves 114,000 patients each year, and with a wide range of specialties, the center treats virtually all types of adult cancer. Patients have access to more than 440 clinical trials and the latest oncology technology.
More details about this integration will be shared in the coming months. For more information about cancer services at UPMC Cole, visit UPMCCole.org.
