Cancer Treatment Centers of America to Help Ease Pressure on Community Hospitals In Wake of COVID-19

CHICAGO, March 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pat Basu, MD, former senior advisor on President Obama's economic and healthcare policy agendas and current President and CEO of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), is calling on all specialty cancer centers to become more proactive in response to COVID-19, and help ease the strain that community hospitals are currently experiencing given the current influx of COVID-19 cases.  Cancer patients are immunocompromised and fall into the high-risk category for the virus. In response, CTCA is offering to support cancer patients from neighboring acute care hospitals, to help those hospitals focus on treating COVID-19 cases and to mitigate the risk tor cancer patients undergoing treatment there.   

"Everyone in the medical community must play their part to help those impacted by COVID-19, including those without the virus who still need their ongoing cancer treatments," said Dr. Basu. "Partnering with physicians at community hospitals will help to free up acute care hospital staff to treat COVID-19 patients and limit interactions between immune-compromised patients and people showing COVID-19 symptoms.

"Our aim is to eliminate any disruption in care and ensure cancer patients receive necessary treatment during this crisis," added Dr. Basu.

CTCA has already taken the following steps to help ease the strain on the healthcare system in their communities:

• Committing to providing care to patients in need within safe driving distance of CTCA facilities
• Using telehealth to connect transitioning patients with their healthcare team at their current treatment facility
• Working with other hospitals to identify ways to address their ICU overflow and surgery needs and credential physicians from other hospitals as necessary

To schedule an interview with Dr. Basu discuss the role specialty cancer centers can play to help eliminate any disruption in cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact Abigail Obre at [email protected], Dean Mastrojohn at [email protected] or Jenifer Slaw at [email protected].

About Pat Basu, MD, MBA
Pat A. Basu, MD, MBA, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Inc., which includes the Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) Comprehensive Cancer Care Network of hospitals and Outpatient Care Centers as well as new business ventures designed to expand access to the Mother Standard® of care at the heart of the CTCA® model. He also serves as a member of the national Board of Directors at CTCA. Prior to joining CTCA, Dr. Basu served as a White House fellow and Senior Advisor and played a key role in helping execute portions of then-President Obama's economic and health agenda. A full biography is available here.   

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America