The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center announced Tuesday an affiliation with Regional Cancer Care Associates in Toms River — an agreement that Hackensack Meridian Health officials feel will bring the advanced therapies and groundbreaking clinical trials of the Theurer Center to Toms River.
The new affiliation, located at the Toms River Regional Cancer Center at 40 Bey Lea Road, will also provide better access to Jersey Shore University Medical Center surgical services and Centers of Excellence in lung, esophageal and hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer, in addition to a surgical team in endocrine, breast, colorectal and gynecological oncology.
HMH CEO Bob Garrett said affiliations such as this are part of the health system’s greater vision.
“One of the major goals of our network is to make sure that every New Jersey resident has access to high-quality, compassionate care that’s accessible and convenient,’’ he said. “This affiliation with Regional Cancer Care Associates brings an exceptional lineup of oncologists and offers groundbreaking treatment and access to hundreds of clinical trials.’’
Dr. Andre Goy, chairman and executive director of John Theurer Cancer Center, said collaboration is more important than ever.
“We are living in a time where cancer care is getting more and more complex,’’ he said. “The affiliation with the John Theurer Cancer Center will give patients in the Toms River area access to subspecialized care and research. We will work together to provide more options, including clinical trials when needed, to patients in the Toms River Community.”
Dr. Thomas Bauer II, chair of surgery and chief of thoracic surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, agreed.
“The affiliation with John Theurer Cancer Center will help provide world-class care to the local community while connecting patients to Centers of Excellence for multiple tumor types,” he said. “When patients need surgery, access to those Centers of Excellence will make them more likely to undergo minimally invasive procedures, get out of the hospital faster, experience less pain and fewer complications, and return to work sooner.”
John Theurer Cancer Center is part of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center.
