Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care to Create Largest Cancer Research and Provider Network in Michigan

Agreement strengthens access to top cancer care in Detroit and across Michigan

DETROIT, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care signed an agreement today that will create the largest cancer research and provider network in Michigan and expand access to advanced cancer care in Detroit and communities throughout the state.

"This is tremendous news for Karmanos Cancer Institute, its patients and the thousands of individuals and families impacted by cancer in Michigan," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., Karmanos president and chief executive officer. "By joining forces with McLaren, this agreement strengthens our ability to provide exceptional cancer care and furthers our commitment to cancer research based right here in Detroit."

The agreement is expected to be effective within several weeks after the boards of both organizations have reviewed and amended their governing documents. Under the terms of the agreement, McLaren will provide a substantial capital investment over a multi-year period to assist with capital upgrades at Karmanos facilities and to fund clinical trials, basic and translational research programs.

The Karmanos Cancer Institute will become a member of the nonprofit McLaren Health Care system. Both Karmanos Cancer Institute and Karmanos Cancer Center, which provides clinical care to patients, will retain their names and remain as separate legal entities, maintaining their assets and reporting to their existing respective boards of directors.

Dr. Bepler will continue as the president and chief executive officer of Karmanos Cancer Institute and Karmanos Cancer Center, and Karmanos employees remain employed by Karmanos. Karmanos physicians, nurses and other health care providers will remain at Karmanos' Detroit, Farmington Hills and Monroe-based locations.

Karmanos Cancer Institute and Karmanos Cancer Center will remain anchored in midtown Detroit, and Karmanos will continue its long-standing relationships with Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center. Other benefits of the agreement include:

• Improved patient experience
• Stronger clinical integration
• Enhanced clinical trial accrual with advanced access to novel treatments through Phase I and Phase II trials
• Joint sharing of medical expertise and quality improvements between physicians and cancer researchers
• Opportunity to expand and enhance medical education/research programs
• Capital investment for research, education and patient care
• Ability to develop and pilot new models of cancer care
• Enhanced ability to recruit and retain oncology specialists and researchers
• Stronger operations and management expertise when combined

"Since our inception, the Karmanos Cancer Institute has been committed to providing world-class cancer research, education and prevention, and patient care. As a result, statistics show that our patients have better survival rates. This agreement gives us the opportunity to extend our reach to give more people a better chance at surviving this disease," said Dr. Bepler. "This truly integrated model not only allows us to impact more cancer patients across Michigan, it also strengthens our efforts right here at our main campus in Detroit. This ultimately helps Karmanos achieve its mission of preventing, detecting and eventually eradicating cancer. In short, we're going to save more lives."

In the months ahead, Karmanos Cancer Institute will work to integrate and further develop its clinical service offerings and broaden its depth of academic and research services to complement and strengthen McLaren's cancer care delivery network in the communities it serves. The McLaren Cancer Institute will be known as the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren's cancer clinical trials program (operated as part of the McLaren Clinical Trials Management Program) will be merged into a single Karmanos Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Office.

"McLaren has worked hard to develop Michigan's largest network of cancer centers and providers, and in looking for ways to strengthen cancer care across our communities, we looked to the leader - Karmanos," said Philip A. Incarnati, president and chief executive officer, McLaren Health Care Corporation. "The Karmanos Cancer Institute has an outstanding reputation for cancer research, providing advanced therapies and unmatched patient care. This new relationship will transform the way new cancer fighting therapies and treatments reach more patients in communities across Michigan. We believe this will become a national model for the delivery of exceptional patient-centered, high quality, evidence-based and cost efficient cancer care."

About The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in midtown Detroit, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Its treatment facility is the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $260 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of more than 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or go to www.karmanos.org.

About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is a large, clinically integrated health delivery system that includes ten hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, the state's only proton therapy center, the state's largest network of cancer centers and providers, an employed primary care physician network, assisted living facilities, commercial and Medicaid HMOs, home health care and hospice, durable medical equipment, retail pharmacy services, and a wholly-owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren's current cancer care delivery network has presence in 58% of Michigan's counties, treating in excess of 6,000 of Michigan's 57,500 newly diagnosed cancer cases. More information at www.mclaren.org.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute