Alignment will speed up, expand access to community-based oncology care

COLUMBUS, Ohio –The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) announces today it will form a new partnership with Zangmeister Cancer Center, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (OTCQX: AONC). This collaboration will expand access to medical oncology and hematology care for patients in central Ohio and provide broader range of options, including both academic and community-based sites of care.

Multi-disciplinary and coordinated cancer treatment often involves multiple cancer specialists providing care, often at different locations, notes David Cohn, MD, interim chief executive officer for the OSUCCC – James. Shared medical records enhance communication across providers, improving care efficiency.

“By working together, we can harness the subspecialty knowledge of the OSUCCC – James with the community experience and convenience of Zangmeister to expedite and expand access for patients, get the right diagnosis upfront and connect patients with the best specialist for their type of cancer,” said Cohn.

This care can then be managed jointly from a community-based location or from the OSUCCC – James.

“What is most important is getting oncology patients timely access to quality oncology care and clinical trials. We can do more of this, and provide outstanding and convenient care, by collaborating,” said Cohn.

Improving timely access to oncology care

This new partnership marks a new approach to connecting community oncology with the subspecialized expertise of the OSUCCC – James and represents another important step toward increasing access to cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Cohn noted that, as the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in central Ohio, the OSUCCC – James serves as a hub of a much larger wheel that provides high-quality oncology care to patients.

“While we cannot treat every patient affected by cancer in Ohio, we can strategically partner with community-based practices like Zangmeister and our James Cancer Network affiliate hospitals to provide high quality cancer care that’s close to home, along with providing access to a robust portfolio of clinical trials,” said Cohn.

The OSUCCC – James is home to one of nine NCI-funded phase I/II clinical trial centers in the United States. Because of this, patients have access to the latest science-backed therapies that are available only in a clinical trial setting. The hospital is also home to the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-oncology, which includes clinical cell therapy programs like CAR T and TIL available at only a few certified hospital programs and central Ohio’s only proton therapy treatment center.

“We deeply value our longstanding relationships with community partners and referring physicians. These connections have been essential in delivering exceptional patient care over many years,” said Jeanna Knoble, MD, medical oncologist and Zangmeister Managing Partner.

“We believe that there is an opportunity to further strengthen our collaboration and explore new avenues that benefit all stakeholders, particularly our shared patients.”

Moving forward, this partnership will allow Zangmeister to direct access to highly specialized cancer therapies when a specific clinical need arises. These therapies may not be readily available in the community and include options such as CAR T-cell therapy, stem cell transplants, additional clinical trials, and the subspecialized expertise that is only available at a designated comprehensive cancer center like Ohio State.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with the OSUCCC – James,” said Steven Swart, executive vice president at AON, an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders that includes Zangmeister. “This partnership will ensure that patients in central Ohio have access to a comprehensive range of cancer care services, aligning with our commitment to delivering innovative, evidence-based, and comprehensive cancer care. We’re excited to create a seamless, efficient experience for patients receiving care at both Zangmeister and Ohio State.”

Community outreach collaboration, medical professional education opportunities

In addition to enhanced patient care coordination and access to subspecialty care, this partnership will put business parameters in place to allow the two institutions to collaborate on future community programs and partner in potential expansions of clinical services like surgery, radiation therapy and supportive care services that are currently available at the OSUCCC – James but not at Zangmeister.

The partnership will also provide Zangmeister physicians/providers and staff with opportunities for continuing medical education in subspeciality cancer topics. To learn more about cancer care and research at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu or call 1-800-293-5066.