PCH Cancer Center partners with IU Health

Saturday, March 5, 2011

GREENCASTLE -- Indiana University Health has assumed the leadership role at Putnam County Hospital's Cancer Care Center in a move that will enable its cancer program to build on its history of success by offering greater access to the research and services of the IU Simon Cancer Center.

Through its recent acquisition of Indianapolis-based Community Cancer Care (CCC) -- which provides cancer care and programming to 18 rural and under-served Indiana communities -- IU Health is dedicated to furthering the vision of CCC and maintaining the high level of service it provides to patients and physicians. To ensure a continuity of care for patients, William M. Dugan, Jr., M.D., Frank A. Workman, M.D., and Hemachandra Venkatesh, M.D., will continue to lead Putnam's cancer program.

"When we started CCC 27 years ago, our vision was to provide access to high-quality cancer care for patients across rural Indiana -- no matter where they lived," said William M. Dugan, Jr., M.D., CCC co-founder and medical oncologist/ hematologist. "We worked together with Putnam County Hospital to build an infrastructure that is available 365 days a year, and patients have greatly benefited from our joint efforts.

"IU Health has resources to advance Putnam's oncology program, so it's time to pass the baton to them," he added. "CCC co-founder Sara Edgerton and I are honored to have worked with Putnam County Hospital's physicians, staff and patients. We are very proud of the accomplishments we've all worked toward. Clearly, this outreach effort has been the highlight of my medical career,"

Dr. Dugan, the founding director of IU Health Methodist Hospital cancer center in Indianapolis, has a long-term professional relationship with IU Health. He will continue to see oncology patients at Putnam County Hospital.

"We are very grateful to CCC founders Dr. Dugan and Sara Edgerton for their vision and foresight in starting CCC and including our hospital in their consortium of outpatient oncology programs," said Dennis Weatherford, Putnam County Hospital president and chief executive officer. "Because of their efforts, cancer patients in Putnam County have had access to high-quality cancer care here at our hospital for 25 years. We look forward to the opportunities this relationship presents. The transition will be seamless to our patients, physicians and staff."

Putnam County Hospital's oncology program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, a gold standard in cancer care. Of the 145 hospitals in Indiana, Putnam County Hospital is one of only 44 to hold this prestigious accreditation.

For more information about Putnam County Hospital's cancer program, contact Linda Mann at 655-2581.

Comments
View 2 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • So...is this just another step toward IU Health Way Out West?

    -- Posted by Palimino on Sat, Mar 5, 2011, at 4:39 PM
  • Well I'm so glad PCH took the time to tell their employees before they shared this info with the community!

    -- Posted by whosurmomma on Sat, Mar 5, 2011, at 7:20 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: