Unfortunately, you will read multiple times in this issue how Kentucky ranks poorly in incidence and mortality rates of cancer. The good news is so many of you, whether oncologists or just providers that interact with cancer patients in some way, are shining the spotlight on our weaknesses and trying to effect change. Percentages just don’t tell the whole story – what is happening in the clinic or the lab or the hospital every day is making a difference in the lives of patients.
In this issue, you will read about the changes taking place at KentuckyOne Health, our cover story, as two systems merge together to integrate, and ultimately, expand oncology services throughout the state. Their mission of reducing inequalities in access to care and their vision of reducing the incidence of cancer are goals that physicians from all over the state are rallying behind.
With a similar mindset of bringing state-of-the-art technology to the population, Dr. Neal Dunlap is helping the Floyd Memorial Cancer Center of Indiana launch a new linear accelerator with SBRT, a more efficient, more effective way of delivering radiation therapy for inoperable lung cancer, and other malignancies.
In Louisville, Dr. Art McLaughlin and the Women’s Diagnostic Center have made a big investment in breast cancer detection as the first private center with 3-D mammography, which is shown to reduce recall rates and detect breast cancers earlier.
In Corbin and Richmond, radiation oncologists Dr. Joseph Wang and Dr. Jeniffer Huhn are ensuring the quality of Lexington Clinic’s cancer centers, which were accredited by the American College of Radiology in September.
It is our job at M.D. Update to communicate not just “the news,” but any story that connects you with other physicians doing similar things throughout the state and with providers whose services complement your own. We had a physician tell us recently that she likes reading our magazine because, among other things, it keeps her apprised of what the competition is up to, and that’s our job too.
Whatever it is you like about us or you would like to see us do in the future, we would love to hear from you. As always, we welcome letters to the editor, story pitches, and just good old general feedback.
All the best,Jennifer S. Newton