Cleveland Clinic has struck a deal with an Illinois hospital that represents its first national affiliation in adult medical oncology.
Cleveland Clinic already has a similar heart-care affiliation agreement in place with the hospital, Cadence Health, as well as a number of other hospitals across the country. In September, the Clinic announced heart-care affiliations with two North Carolina hospitals.
For hospitals, the main benefit of establishing an affiliation agreement with the Clinic comes from the opportunity to improve care quality through access to and implementation of the Clinic’s best practices and protocols. Affiliate hospitals also are able to use the Clinic’s name in marketing efforts.
Cleveland Clinic was ranked No. 9 in the nation in cancer care by U.S. News and World Report, according to a statement from Winfield, Illinois-based Cadence.
“Our affiliation with Cadence Health will help enhance patient care by providing the latest treatments available along with greater access to clinical trials,” said Dr. Brian Bolwell, chairman of the Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute.
The Clinic receives an annual fee in its affiliation deals.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
In addition to heart and cancer care, neurology is another top priority for the Clinic in establishing affiliate programs, a hospital spokeswoman said last year.
