RWJUH and American Cancer Society Sign Agreement to Boost Cancer Education and Outreach

Thursday, October 01, 2009

New Brunswick - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) has signed a formal collaboration agreement with the Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society. This partnership—the first of its kind in the state—will encourage the sharing of best practices for disseminating information about cancer prevention, early detection, support services and community outreach.

“As a comprehensive cancer center, our mission is not limited solely to clinical practice,” notes Stephen K. Jones, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “We are proud of our clinical programs and capabilities, but it is equally important for us to serve as an advocate for cancer prevention, education and research. We believe that this agreement perfectly complements our mission and will significantly strengthen our outreach efforts.”

“We are thrilled and honored that Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is partnering with us to reach more people in need,” said Frank P. Mascia, III, executive vice president for the American Cancer Society of New Jersey. “Robert Wood Johnson is well-known for their commitment to excellence in cancer treatment and this relationship gives us an extraordinary opportunity to provide our free programs and resources to more cancer survivors.”

The three-year collaboration agreement calls for RWJUH to partner with the American Cancer Society on a series of initiatives designed to enhance the dissemination of cancer-related information through expanded community educational and outreach programs and events. The agreement will also encourage referrals of newly diagnosed cancer patients to both hospital and American Cancer Society-sponsored patient programs such as “Look Good, Feel Better,” and “I Can Cope.”

“We have worked with the American Cancer Society on many initiatives in the past so it makes perfect sense to formalize our partnership, create a new vision and set goals that will greatly expand cancer-related programming and support for residents within the region we serve,” explains David Fernandez, Vice President for Oncology Services at RWJUH.

The Cancer Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is the flagship hospital of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ), the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. The hospital’s cancer program has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. The partnership between RWJUH and CINJ offers patients a unique opportunity to receive care from research physicians of CINJ in a state-of-the-art environment at RWJUH. RWJUH’s cancer program is the only program to be ranked among the top 50 programs in the United States by U.S.News & World Report as part of its 2009 ranking of “America’s Best Hospitals.”

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 600-bed academic medical center and the principal hospital of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Robert Wood Johnson is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care. RWJUH is the first hospital in the nation to implant the AbioCor self-contained artificial heart since the device received FDA approval in 2006. RWJUH is one of only three sites in the nation approved to offer this groundbreaking technology.

Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, and women’s and children’s care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.

The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is among U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Hospitals.” It is the fourth consecutive year that RWJUH has achieved this prestigious ranking. The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has rated RWJUH among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers. The Leapfrog Group rated RWJUH as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified RWJUH as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. RWJUH is also a recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence for more than 10 consecutive years.

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