American Cancer Society and Cambridge Health Alliance Sign Collaborative Agreement

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NEWS FROM CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE

July 25, 2008

Joining Forces in the Fight Against Cancer

American Cancer Society and Cambridge Health Alliance Sign Collaborative Agreement

Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop, MA...The American Cancer Society, New England Division, and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) are joining forces to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The two organizations recently signed a collaborative agreement to work together on a number of key initiatives including advocacy and outreach efforts throughout the community. In addition, Cambridge Health Alliance will provide information to its cancer patients on available American Cancer Society resources, programs, and patient services.

"The collaboration enables CHA to utilize the many resources that the American Cancer Society offers and reinforces our focus on cancer prevention through early detection," said Priscilla Dasse, BSN, MPH, CHA's senior vice president of performance improvement. "This new formalized relationship truly represents our public health mission, and I look forward to the benefit that it will provide our patients, community, and staff."

"The American Cancer Society is always striving to educate the public about today's many advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and services," said Lynn Basilio, Society area director for cancer control. "We actively seek to collaborate with local hospitals to help provide the best possible care to men and women who are diagnosed with cancer, and promote our overall mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service."

Many of the support programs and services provided by the American Cancer Society are aimed at improving the quality of life of local cancer patients. Programs and services include providing transportation for patients to and from treatment through Road to Recovery(SM) and helping cancer patients cope with appearance-related side effects from chemotherapy or radiation treatments by teaching hands-on cosmetic techniques through Look Good…Feel Better(R). Through the newly signed collaboration agreement, patients at CHA will be informed of and directed to all of the Society's patient support programs and services.

Collaborating with the American Cancer Society will enhance CHA's extensive cancer outreach efforts, which include its Volunteer Health Advisor Program, smoking education, and the Breast Health Initiative, which promotes mammography screening among CHA patients. CHA's Division of Hematology/Oncology, led by Chief C. Douglas Taylor, MD, provides comprehensive services to patients, including state-of-the-art oncologic consultations, treatment, and follow-up. More information about CHA's cancer care is available by calling 617-665-1552 (Cambridge hospital campus) or 617-381-7115 (Whidden hospital campus in Everett).

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Cambridge Health Alliance is an innovative, award-winning health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, more than 20 primary care and specialty practices, the Cambridge Public Health Dept., and the Network Health plan. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.