Introducing the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center Network

A Brand that Stands for Quality Cancer Care in North Texas Has Expanded

When someone receives a diagnosis of cancer, a world of difficult choices lies ahead. One of the first and most important decisions for the new patient is deciding where to go to get quality care. For people living in North Texas, that decision has now become easier with the launch of the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center network.

For the past two years, Baylor medical centers throughout North Texas have been working to achieve the distinction of using the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center name for their oncology programs by meeting or exceeding the stringent criteria established by Baylor Health Care System (BHCS).

“We are very excited about growing together to bring the best possible cancer care to the citizens of North Texas and beyond,” said Dr. Alan Miller, director of the Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas and chief of oncology for Baylor Health Care System.

Seven of our Baylor Health Care System facilities are now Sammons Cancer Centers, with two more expected in a few years. Joining Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas are:

The cancer programs at the two newest hospitals in the health care system—Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton and Baylor Medical Center at McKinney—are well on their way to achieving accreditation and designation.

While you might see the changing of signs on doors at these hospitals to reflect this new name, there’s much more happening in the background that you won’t see at first glance. Novel approaches are being tested at facilities, while doctors are working closely with our cancer researchers in Dallas to get clinical trials out to our patients. This oncology network consists of facilities that hold certifications from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

How Does a Baylor Facility Qualify to Carry the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center Brand?

Each Baylor institution desiring to join the network must submit a request to BHCS oncology leadership showing its readiness:

  • They must have received accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons as an approved cancer program. Accreditation by the CoC indicates that a cancer program provides high-quality care as measured against national standards and continuously strives to address each patient’s needs while improving outcomes.
  • They must meet specific requirements demonstrating active participation by their Cancer Committee physician leader, administrative director/representative, and oncology nursing leader in BHCS oncology strategic initiatives.
  • They must meet specific requirements demonstrating active participation in BHCS oncology safety and health care improvement projects.
  • They must meet specific requirements demonstrating active participation in BHCS oncology educational efforts in nursing, medicine, or other ancillary education related to oncology.
  • They must demonstrate participation in research initiatives, either within the facility or by supporting other Baylor facilities and their oncology research by making clinical trials available to patients, regardless of the location of the trials.
  • The request is reviewed by the BHCS oncology leadership team to assess whether the facility has met the membership criteria and to ensure the facility’s ongoing commitment. If it is determined that all criteria have been met, the Baylor facility then has the distinction of using the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center name.

How Does Accessing the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center Network Benefit Patients?

Patients will be the major beneficiaries of the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center network. When initially deciding upon a treatment center, they will have the assurance that any institution carrying the Baylor Sammons brand will offer quality cancer care. By receiving care at a Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, patients can be treated close to home for most of their cancer care needs.

According to Lynn Canavan, MD, director of breast surgical oncology at Baylor Plano:

“Baylor Plano’s position in the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center network will show women that they can get quality care really close to home, avoiding the stress of traveling all over the metroplex.”

Patients will be able to draw upon the strength of the entire network in terms of access to nationally recognized experts in the treatment of various types of cancer and the availability of specialized equipment.

Patients with complex treatment issues will have many heads discussing their care, and when necessary, can benefit from a seamless transition to some of the unique services available at the Baylor Sammons Dallas campus.

Brenda Blain, DNP, RN-BC, FACHE, chief nursing officer/chief operating officer at Baylor Irving, is excited about the great strides being made in the treatment of cancer patients at Irving:

“As oncology services become more sophisticated, Baylor Irving is committed to being a step ahead, offering more advanced, innovative procedures with one main focus—improving patient outcomes.”

This includes the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit, newly relocated at Baylor T. Boone Pickens Cancer Hospital, as well as earliest access to new agents being tested in Phase I/II trials at the Innovative Clinical Trials Center.  Nurse navigators will work with the patients’ clinicians to identify specialized services and clinical trials that can provide the best treatment options for selected patients, regardless of the site.  

David Klein, MD, interim president of Baylor Fort Worth, believes that clinical studies that bring research to the patient’s bedside not only provide increased understanding of the disease, but potentially offer the patient the best available new therapy.

“Patients typically are interested in participating in clinical trials,” he commented. “Baylor Fort Worth offers them the opportunity to stay close to home.”

A newly hired genetic counselor from Baylor Sammons Cancer Center’s Hereditary Cancer Risk Program will travel to other institutions within the network to provide counseling services for patients with a full range of cancers who might benefit from genetic testing based on personal or family history.

How Does Participation in the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center Network Benefit Member Institutions?

Becoming a member of the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center network requires demonstrating quality in the care of cancer patients. All of our member institutions are doing that—and documenting that they are doing it.  

Laura Mobley, director of clinical informatics/oncology at Baylor Waxahachie, stated:

“We are excited that we will be able to offer comprehensive cancer services right here in Waxahachie. Our staff is working very hard to bring quality cancer care to our community, as evidenced by our recent certification by the Commission on Cancer, in which Baylor Waxahachie received eight of eight commendations.”

There is more dialogue among physicians throughout the metroplex, allowing us to educate each other as physicians.  Vikas Aurora, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist on the medical staff as well as the chairman of the Cancer Committee at Baylor Grapevine, is excited about the growth of the program.

 “We are working to be at the forefront of community cancer care by integrating physician and nurse enthusiasm with administrative support,” he said. “It takes time and resources to fuel growth but we have it here, with the strong support of Baylor Health Care System.”

Rather than having to “reinvent the wheel” at each site to develop new treatment options or patient outreach programs, physician leaders from each institution can come to the quarterly Baylor Health Care System Oncology Council to share ideas and best practices with colleagues at their sister facilities.

A program that has been developed and perfected at one center can be used as a model at other sites. Cooperation among cancer centers can bring the strength of numbers to bear on conducting new clinical trials that make innovative treatment options available to patients.

One such program, Therapeutic Touch Time, was recently developed at Baylor Garland and is a team approach to help patients and families ask questions and gain understanding about cancer.

It was developed by oncology nurse Prabh Batra, BSN, RN, supervisor of the Medical/Surgical Oncology Unit, in response to needs she encountered in more than 20 years of working with oncology patients.

Evidence-based practice had shown that the most important needs identified by patients were related to information and communication about their disease process and adequacy of pain management. Batra and her team developed Therapeutic Touch Time as a method for the patient and family to meet and seek information from the entire cancer care team.

Contact:
Jennifer McDowell 
Phone: 214- 470-1370
Jennifer.McDowell@baylorhealth.edu

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com