Landmark Affiliation Between Shawnee Mission Health and MD Anderson Cancer Network Elevates Cancer Care in Greater Kansas City Metro

Shawnee Mission Health (SMH) is now a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network, a program supported by MD Anderson Cancer Center, the top ranked cancer center in the United States.

As a certified member of the network, SMH raises the standard of care to the greater Kansas City metropolitan community and beyond with patient-focused cancer care that follows MD Anderson's renowned treatment guidelines and multidisciplinary approach. SMH is the only network affiliate in Kansas and in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

"This process began over a year ago, and I am so proud of our Shawnee Mission Cancer Center and Shawnee Mission Health teams for all of their hard work and dedication to achieve the MD Anderson certification, one of the most rigorous quality and safety assessments in the nation," said SMH Administrative Director of Oncology Services Becca Bell. "Our affiliation with this network and collaboration with MD Anderson is part of our continuous quest for improvement and keeping quality health care local. This collaboration is about world-class cancer care delivered locally."

As part of SMH's certification, physicians will provide treatments that align with MD Anderson care guidelines and consult with Houston-based sub-specialists on especially rare or complex cases. Many cancer specialists at Shawnee Mission Cancer Center are certified by MD Anderson Physicians Network.

SMH physicians now can access a wide range of care resources developed by MD Anderson, including disease-specific and evidence-based treatment guidelines, safety practices and professional education. As an affiliate, Shawnee Mission Cancer Center and its patients will benefit from MD Anderson's 76-year history of expertise, multidisciplinary care and research and contribute to its mission to end cancer.

"Becoming a member of MD Anderson Cancer Network demonstrates SMH's commitment to providing the highest standard of cancer care to its patients and this entire community," said William A. Murphy, Jr., M.D., chair of the board, Physicians Network. "MD Anderson Cancer Network and SMH joining together as collaborators enhances an already excellent program here. We can bring MD Anderson's expertise and innovative approaches to more patients in the Kansas City area and elevate the standard of care throughout the region."

The Shawnee Mission Cancer Center opened in 2014 and was designed with patients in mind. It accommodates the emotional, physical and clinical priorities of those it serves. Shawnee Mission Cancer Center is focused on treating the whole person body, mind and spirit and offers several support services and amenities, including a single point of contact for care and complementary therapies like massage, music therapy and more.

SMH's certification within MD Anderson Cancer Network becomes effective Nov. 15, 2017.

About MD Anderson Cancer Network

MD Anderson Cancer Network is a program supported by MD Anderson Cancer Center. It is designed to advance the institutions mission of eliminating cancer by delivering MD Anderson expertise to community health providers. The network includes mission-aligned hospitals and hospital systems across the United States committed to elevating the quality of care in their communities. Hospitals have direct access to MD Anderson clinical guidelines and best practices through certified membership in the network.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institutions sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals survey. It has ranked as one of the nations top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 13 times in the last 16 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).