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Saint Louis University and Tenet Healthcare Corp. have announced the creation of the Saint Louis University Cancer Center.
The facility will offer comprehensive services that link clinical research, education, prevention and treatment. An entire floor of the center will be devoted to the latest in cancer research.
The main site of the Cancer Center will be the former Bethesda General Hospital, 3655 Vista Ave., located adjacent to Tenet's Saint Louis University Hospital. Tenet purchased Bethesda General Hospital from Bethesda Health Group Inc. and will renovate the structure and lease part of it to Saint Louis University.
University and Tenet officials said that a thorough market analysis indicated the St. Louis area is underserved in cancer care.
"While the development of a comprehensive cancer center is a major plus for Saint Louis University and our School of Medicine, as well as our partners at Tenet, the greatest benefit will be to the St. Louis community," said University President Lawrence Biondi, SJ. "Currently, one in three St. Louisans dies of cancer or cancer-related illnesses. With increased oncology expertise and continued focused research, we will better fulfill our mission to serve our metropolitan and regional communities and its ever-increasing health care needs."
"The Saint Louis University Cancer Center is an exciting example of how academic and community physicians can work together for the benefit of their patients," said Phillip Schaengold, vice president, operations, of Tenet's St. Louis market and chief executive officer of Saint Louis University Hospital. "This Cancer Center also represents a major investment by Tenet in the future of St. Louis health care. We are proud that this new facility will offer the latest in treatment options available in a convenient setting for patients and physicians from the entire metropolitan area
In a recent issue of U.S. News & World Report, Saint Louis University Hospital was among the best in the nation for cancer expertise, ranking in the top 50. To build on the program's already strong national reputation, Tenet and Saint Louis University are recruiting a nationally recognized physician scientist to serve as director of the cancer center.
Also being recruited over a five-year period will be a nationally recognized researcher to serve as deputy director, several cancer researchers to serve as associate directors and several physicians with advanced skills in treating various forms of cancer-related illness.
Officials will capitalize on Bethesda's proximity and connection to Saint Louis University Hospital so that existing cancer services, such as the inpatient unit, Positron Emission Tomography, and Radiation Oncology, can be integrated with expanded outpatient services in the Bethesda building. Inpatient cancer facilities will remain at Saint Louis University Hospital.
"Since the beginning of their relationship, SLU and Tenet Healthcare have set the highest goals for the delivery of quality cancer services to the people of St. Louis and the surrounding region," said D. Douglas Miller, M.D., interim director of the Saint Louis University Cancer Center and chairman of the department of internal medicine at the School of Medicine. "These health care partners are poised to realize this goal, while building on their year 2000 success as one of the U.S. News & World Report's top 50 cancer programs in the country. Working closely with their colleagues at other Tenet community facilities, SLUCare doctors and scientists will bring breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment from the lab bench to the bedside."
Miller said that cancer patients have been involved in the planning efforts for the center to make sure their needs are completely met.
"For the one-in-three St. Louisans who will face a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetime, the Saint Louis University Cancer Center is a community resource focused on providing cancer care with compassion, convenience and commitment," Miller said. Cancer is the leading overall cause of death in the United States, accounting for 23 percent of all deaths annually.
"The establishment of the Saint Louis University Cancer Center is an important new community asset and an excellent use of the former Bethesda General Hospital Building," said John W. Rowe, president and chief executive office of Bethesda Health Group Inc. "With the sale of the hospital building, Bethesda is able to devote all of its resources in providing additional services to St. Louis area seniors."
Patricia Monteleone, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine, said that research in the cancer center will be comprised of both existing cancer research within the school and expanded research capabilities as a part of the cancer center development plan.
"The Saint Louis University Cancer Center truly will be comprehensive, including all aspects of cancer treatment from basic and translational cancer research to cancer awareness, education and prevention," Monteleone said.
"I am very pleased that Saint Louis University School of Medicine is working with Tenet to provide a state-of-the-art Cancer Center. The center combines the strengths of the physician clinicians and researchers of the School of Medicine and the facilities and accessibility to patients of the Tenet Saint Louis network."
Saint Louis University Cancer Center is offering free at-home colon cancer screening kits in conjunction with the announcement of the new center. SLUCare cancer specialists say the free kits are easy to use in the privacy of your home and simple for anyone to check for early warning signs of gastrointestinal problems including colon cancer, ulcers, hemorrhoids, polyps, colitis or diverticulitis. To order a free at-home colon cancer screening kit and a free pamphlet containing risk factors and screening guidelines for the 12 most frequently diagnosed cancers, call (314) 268-5880 or (800) 268-5880.
Saint Louis University Hospital is part of Tenet Healthcare Saint Louis. The 356-bed teaching hospital is affiliated with Saint Louis University School of Medicine and is ranked by U.S.News & World Report as one of America's Best Hospitals in 12 of 17 medical specialties. The other Tenet hospitals in St. Louis include: SouthPointe Hospital, 2639 Miami St., Forest Park Hospital, 6150 Oakland Ave., and Des Peres Hospital, 2345 Dougherty Ferry Road, Des Peres. All four hospitals are part of Tenet Healthcare Corp., which, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates 111 acute care hospitals with 27,013 beds and numerous related health care services. The company employs approximately 104,000 people serving communities in 17 states.
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