OSF HealthCare continues to focus on expanding access to advanced cancer treatment for patients across rural Illinois. Lisa DeKezel, President of OSF HealthCare Holy Family and St Mary’s Medical Centers, says one of the system’s top priorities has been strengthening the OSF Cancer Institute in Peoria to provide the highest level of care close to home.
“The key focus and strategy for OSF HealthCare system was development of our OSF Cancer Institute out of Peoria, truly best in class, very progressive cancer care provided. The goal there is for our rural communities and those we serve to have access to that same type of care, maybe they would have been traveling to Mayo or St Louis or Iowa City or well beyond to receive what they can receive right there in Peoria. Bringing the proton beam in, really developing a very strong network of medical oncology, radiation oncology services, along with all of the support services that you want to wrap around our patients, including care navigators and really just best in class services. We also really intently focused on clinical research and clinical trials.”
DeKezel also says OSF is working on developing a rural cancer center hub in Galesburg, aiming to bring oncology services directly to patients and support them where they are.
For the full Rural Health forum with DeKezel, check under news podcasts.
